IGF 2024 Open Forum #59 Towards a Greener Future with E-Waste Management

    Roundtable
    Duration (minutes): 90
    Format description: The room layout should facilitate engagement and interaction, with chairs arranged in a roundtable -style setup facing the roundtable participants (panelists), allowing for easy eye contact and communication. A podium or table for roundtable participants can be positioned at a location that enhances visibility and focus. Duration-wise, the session should typically span 90 minutes, allowing ample time for roundtable participants (panelist) to delve into e-waste management related aspects while ensuring audience participation. The session could begin with brief introductions from panelists, followed by moderated discussion on e-waste management to promote sustainability. Towards the latter half, the floor can be opened for audience questions, fostering a direct exchange between attendees and panelists. A skilled moderator is crucial to maintain flow and ensure all voices are heard within the allotted time frame, creating an enriching and interactive experience for all involved.

    Description

    The DCO advocates that tackling sustainability challenges, especially e-waste management issues, requires collaborative efforts across multiple stakeholders. Consequently, in partnership between DCO Ecosystem (Member States, Observers, and Partners), ICT hardware manufacturing firms, international organizations, and civil society, aimed at
    offering guidance for the setting up, execution, and enhancement of e-waste management at both national and international (cross-border) levels taking into consideration public private partnership.

    This session purposes to discuss existing e-waste management programs, identifying successful strategies for e-waste value-chain, including e-waste collection, recycling, and responsible disposal, Discuss the key challenges stakeholders face when dealing with e-waste, and particularly cross-border e-waste flow, and Explore opportunities to standardize e-waste handling procedures across the industry, streamlining the process and encouraging innovation in recycling technologies. Present potential solutions and initial framework.

    This session has the potential to adopt a hybrid format, incorporating both online and offline elements, and will be structured to facilitate interactive engagement between domain experts and the community.

    Organizers

    Digital Cooperation Organization
    Alaa Abdulaal, Chief - Digital Economy Foresight (DEF), Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO); Dr. Syed Iftikhar H. Shah, Digital Research Director , DEF, DCO, DCO Member States, DCO Member States, DCO Observers (Private IT firms), ICT hardware Manufacturing Entities.

    Speakers

    1. A representative from DCO
    2. A representative from Ministry of Communications and Digitalization, Government of Ghana
    3. An expert from Ministry of Sustainable development, Bahrain
    4. An expert from DCO Observer (e.g, Deloitte, Nortal, IsDB, STC, etc)
    5. Two experts from ICT Hardware Manufacturing firms

    Onsite Moderator

    DCO General Secretariat Expert

    Online Moderator

    DCO General Secretariat Expert

    Rapporteur

    DCO General Secretariat

    SDGs

    12. Responsible Production and Consumption
    13. Climate Action
    15. Life on Land
    17. Partnerships for the Goals


    Targets: This proposed session is in direct alignment with the previously mentioned UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For instance:

     Assist nations in shaping or enhancing their National Digital Agendas to promote sustainable consumption practices and diminish the environmental footprint of ICT operations.

     Responsible and sustainable practices for e-waste across the value chain to accelerate the progress to achieve relevant UN SDGs Goals.

     Disseminate essential insights and expertise to address e-waste related environmental concerns and promote the development of climate-resilient technologies within the ICT sector.

     Initiate transformative shifts within the ICT Hardware manufacturing industry by implementing a methodical sustainability agenda grounded in cutting-edge e-waste value-chain methodologies and custom-tailored innovations to suit each country's requirements.