Welcome to the United Nations
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs). ITU allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide. ITU is committed to connecting all the world's people – wherever they live and whatever their means. Through ITU’s work, we protect and support everyone's fundamental right to communicate.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet. As acknowledged by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, “The spread of information and communications technology and global interconnectedness has great potential to accelerate human progress, to bridge the digital divide and to develop knowledge societies, as does scientific and technological innovation across areas as diverse as medicine and energy”.
Increased Internet use have the potential to reduce poverty and create jobs through improved efficiency and transparency, applications and services, such as e-agriculture and digital finance, help end poverty and hunger as well as monitor and mitigate climate change and sustaining our natural resources. All three pillars of sustainable development – economic development, social inclusion and environmental protection – need ICTs as key catalysts. The development potential of ICT as cross-cutting enablers must therefore be fully harnessed for achieving the SDGs.
An in-depth view of the role of ICTs and ITU’s contribution to the goals to be reviewed at the 2017 High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (Goals 1,2,3,5,9,14 &17) is provided in Annex 1.
Continue reading full input in pdf.