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Cisco and the OECD: Building the World’s First Full Picture of Digital Well-being

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Pioneering research into the risks and benefits of digital life to help society prepare for the AI-era and beyond

News summary:

Cisco and the OECD launch the Digital Well-being Hub to holistically study technology’s impact on well-being and shape inclusive digital policies.The Hub explores the effects of digital transformation on people’s well-being by crowdsourcing insights including life satisfaction, mental health, AI tools and ethics, digital skills, cyber safety, civic engagement, climate consciousness and social connections. It also presents visitors with OECD data across several well-being dimensions.The collaboration with the OECD is part of Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration program, a global co-innovation platform that is helping power inclusive communities and resilient economies.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Cisco, the worldwide technology leader, with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), has launched the Digital Well-being Hub, the world’s first cross-cutting study into the complex relationship between digital technologies and individual well-being. As AI and technology rapidly transform the ways we live, work, and connect, there has never been a comprehensive understanding of the overall impact of digital transformation on our well-being. Until now.

Daily Digital Experiences: the Missing Piece in Well-Being
Existing research already indicates that 40% of adults in OECD countries lack basic digital skills, potentially hampering their ability to safely navigate digital environments, including understanding digital privacy and the mental health implications of online activities. The situation gets more complex when considering that more than half of the workers in these countries are concerned that AI-related data collection could result in biased decisions against them. However, this picture is still incomplete. What is missing is an understanding of how different people experience these interconnected issues on a daily basis and how they impact overall well-being. For instance, a lack of digital skills may limit job prospects, or uncertainty about application of technology might deter responsible social media use, or participating in online education, healthcare or civic engagement.

“Digital well-being isn’t one thing; it’s multifaceted and interconnected, requiring a holistic understanding to responsibly navigate the AI era and beyond. But we’ve never fully examined technology’s impact on our well-being across various aspects of everyday life such as education, health and jobs,” said Guy Dietrich, SVP and Chief Innovation Officer, Cisco. “The evidence we gather from our Digital Well-being Hub will help people build healthier relationships with technology and create a more sustainable, secure, and inclusive digital future. By understanding how technology influences our well-being, we can unlock its full potential.”

Connecting the Dots in Digital Life
The Hub aims to dig deeper into the interplay between these issues by taking a holistic view of digital well-being that makes connections between the use of digital technologies and factors such as life satisfaction, mental health, digital skills, cyber safety, civic engagement, climate consciousness and social connections. Contributions from visitors to the Hub will inform pioneering research that will go beyond technology to focus on outcomes that enhance the quality of digital life for everyone.

“The Digital Well-being Hub shines a light on how advanced technology can build healthier lives and communities-and this is just the beginning,” said Francine Katsoudas, Cisco’s Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer. “Connecting global populations through shared experiences presents an uplifting vision, but also an important call to action on behalf of the 2.6 billion people who still lack access to the Internet. This means that a third of the global population-largely in the world’s poorest countries-can’t participate and won’t be represented. We must commit to narrowing this gap as the first and most fundamental step to global well-being in the digital age.”

Building the First Full Picture of Digital Well-Being
The groundbreaking study, the first to connect different well-being dimensions in a single view, wrestles with the contradictions of the digital world. Where digital technology is accessible, available, and affordable—and people have the right skills—it can improve economic well-being and transform the way we work, live, and connect. AI for example, can boost productivity and improve working conditions. But it can also show biases against women and minorities. The effects of digital technology on the social, environmental, and relational aspects of well-being are less clear-cut, with risks and negative effects heightened by excessive or problematic use.

Part-crowdsourcing platform, part-research tool
The Digital Well-being Hub is grounded in the OECD Well-being Framework. It captures real-time evidence of people’s well-being, digital behaviours, and inequalities in technology use. Visitors to the Hub can also explore and interact with the OECD’s existing findings on technology’s impacts and compare country-level data.

“Through the Digital Well-being Hub, we will hear directly from people to better understand the interplay between technology and life that can inform new decisions and policies, and spur action to improve outcomes for people,” said Romina Boarini, Director, OECD Centre for Well-being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity (WISE). “Up to 14% of people in OECD countries feel lonely, which could be potentially exacerbated by the use of digital tools. Through our collaboration with Cisco we are exploring the unintended consequences of excessive or problematic use of digital tools and understand how people live in the digital world. Our findings will help to shape policies and foster a more equitable and inclusive digital future.”

How’s Digital Life for You?
During the next several months, Cisco and the OECD are calling on people globally to contribute their experiences via the Hub. Once enough responses are collected, the OECD will analyse and synthesize people’s experiences (the subjective data) with existing OECD research (objective data) to provide a more holistic view of digital well-being in 2025.

Additional Resources:

Digital Well-being Hub Guy Diedrich Blog

About Cisco
Cisco is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. 

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SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc.

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“India Global Forum’s mission more relevant than ever,” says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ahead of IGF Middle East and Africa 2024

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November 24, 2024

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India Global Forum’s flagship event in UAE kicks off in Dubai on 25 November with IGF ForumPolicymakers, politicians, business figures and celebrities from India, UAE, Africa to converge at inaugural session

DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ahead of India Global Forum’s (IGF) flagship Middle East & Africa 2024 (ME&A 2024) in Dubai on Monday, 25 November, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman commended the role of the organisation in fostering global partnerships.

“Through their impactful and outcomes driven work, India Global Form has consistently provided a platform that fosters a better understanding of modern India and its vast opportunities for the global audience. It has also played an important role in building meaningful cross-border connections.

“India Global Forum’s mission to build corridors of technology, talent, investment and trust is more relevant than ever,” she said.

Under the theme of ‘Limitless Horizons’, IGF ME&A 2024 will foster new partnerships and collaborations between India, the Middle East, and Africa, unlocking opportunities in sectors such as technology, finance, sustainability and innovation.

The two-day event will begin with a special address by India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

The inaugural session will also witness UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, Omar al Olama, delve into the policies and reforms driving technological innovation in the UAE.

Looking forward to IGF ME&A, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir said: “The India-UAE relationship has entered an exciting new phase of exponential growth. We are at a moment in history where India-UAE relations are driving the synergy between our regions which has never been greater, and IGF serves as a beacon for harnessing this potential.”

Manoj Ladwa, Founder and Chairman, India Global Forum (IGF), said: “India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, aptly noted during his recent visit to Dubai that the India-UAE ties are in an era of new milestones. These ties are not just about trade figures or agreements – they represent a deeper alignment of values, aspirations, and shared visions for the future. IGF Middle East and Africa is an opportunity to channel this momentum into actionable outcomes that benefit not just our nations but the wider region.”

Featuring over 200 speakers and 1,000 participants across nine streams, IGF ME&A 2024 includes:

IGF Dialogues: An exclusive gathering of industry leaders and policymakers engaging in peer-to-peer roundtable discussions.IGF Forum: A Deep dive into how India, the Middle East, and Africa can embrace limitless horizons in a changing worldLeaders Dinner: An exclusive by-invite only dinner at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu DhabiFounders and Funders Forum: Spotlighting the possibilities and pitfalls of the growing role of AI in India, the Middle East, and Africa.Climate and Business Forum (ClimB) – Exploring how businesses can achieve growth while prioritising sustainability and climate actionIGF Focus Forum – Discussions across diverse event streams, including leadership, entrepreneurship, healthcare, skilling and cultureDisruptors in the Desert – Demystifying emerging trends and technologies across key sectors poised to shape the next decade of the Global South. 

These engagements will tackle pressing global challenges, from climate change and energy transition to the future of AI and digital economies, bringing together a diverse lineup of global leaders, business pioneers, policymakers, and innovators.

Key Speakers across the event include:

H.E. Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work ApplicationsH.E. Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to UAEMahesh Bhupathi, Indian Tennis LegendYusuf Tambawala, Vice President of Growth & Business Support, DP WorldLeander Paes, Indian Tennis LegendAbhimanyu Munjal, Managing Director and CEO, Hero FincorpHarsh Jain, Co-Founder, Dream11Monish Shah, Founder and CEO, DreamSetGoSanjay Nayyar, Founder and Chairman, Sorin AdvisorsAmnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, MastercardNeeraj Makin, Senior Executive Vice President, Group Head – Strategy, Analytics & Venture Capital, Emirates NBDSiddharth Shah, Co-founder, PharmeasyFaizal Kottikollon, Chairman, KEF HoldingsRola Abu Manneh, CEO Middle East, Standard CharteredSiddharth Balachandran, Executive Chairman & CEO, Buimerc CorporationKuppulakshmi Krishnamoorthy, Global Head, Zoho for StartupsMina Liccione, Comedian, Dubomedy

About India Global Forum
India Global Forum tells the story of contemporary India. The pace of change and growth India has set itself is an opportunity for the world. IGF is the gateway for businesses and nations to help seize that opportunity.  To know more, click here

Social Media Handles & Hashtag to Follow
Twitter: @IGFUpdates & @manojladwa
LinkedIn: India Global Forum
#IGFUAE

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Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2566069/IGF_Logo.jpg

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Zooming into the green transformation, the “Together We Act” platform for China’s dual-carbon talent plan was released

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November 24, 2024

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“Empowering Green Value Chains, Contributing to New Productive Forces” Side Event was Successfully Held at COP29

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The side event titled “Empowering Green Value Chains, Contributing to New Productive Forces” was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, during COP29. The event was jointly organized by the Vanke Foundation, C Team, and Phoenix TV. The aim of the event was to explore how industries in China can empower human capital and implement green value chains to achieve green, efficient, and low-carbon operational models under the country’s dual-carbon strategy. The goal was also to inspire new productive forces and drive the green transformation of economic and social development.

The side event brought together experts, scholars, business representatives, and NGO partners from both China and abroad to discuss the latest global trends and developments in green value chains across key industries. The event was chaired by Yang Peidan, Director of C Team. In her opening remarks, Liu Xi, Senior Manager of Climate Change and Biodiversity at the Vanke Foundation, highlighted the foundation’s vision of a “beautiful and shared future home” and its commitment to promoting environmental protection and social public welfare. She also introduced the “Net Zero Drive” Talents Acceleration Initiative, unveiling the “Together We Act” platform, a significant new step in the foundation’s efforts to align with its strategies.

Liu Yifeng, Deputy Director of C Team, provided an in-depth introduction to the “Together We Act” platform. This platform aims to cultivate and empower talents in the field of China’s dual-carbon strategy, equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to better adapt to and lead the green low-carbon transformation.

C Team is implementing a strategic upgrade to support the development of emerging industry talents while facilitating the transition of workers from traditional industries. This initiative aims to create a green employment market system. According to Liu, workers in traditional industries need to adapt to the “new wave” of industry transformation, while employees in emerging sectors must quickly update their knowledge and skills to keep pace with technological advancements. Through effective training and accelerated efforts, industries, businesses, and regions can better apply technologies and management practices, achieving both technological and energy transformations.

To this end, C Team has partnered with Tencent to develop the “Together We Act” platform. The platform breaks down knowledge into “knowledge cards,” which are categorized and tailored for workers in need of transformation or upskilling. The platform offers smart, content-driven training and quantitative assessments. By using algorithms, the platform provides personalized knowledge to users and includes management features that allow administrators to assign tasks and learning objectives. Knowledge and exercises are managed separately, creating a flexible and intelligent learning system.

Additionally, C Team plans to leverage the data on workforce technology upgrades and training behaviors collected by the platform to analyze the impact of dual-transformation policies and strategies on the workforce in both corporate supply chains and regional areas. This data will help companies and local governments better understand workforce trends and provide support for industry and regional transitions.

Media’s role is also essential in promoting new productive forces. Yang Yuntong, Director of International Cooperation and Project Operations at Phoenix TV, shared that as the largest well-rounded Chinese-language cultural media group overseas, Phoenix TV has long been committed to advancing new productive forces through practical actions. The group has been actively involved in climate-change communication in China and has hosted the annual “Zero-Carbon Mission International Climate Summit” for the past four years in the lead-up to COP, providing a platform for dialogue and discussion among stakeholders and influencing corporate practices and public advocacy.

Xu Shilun, head of the ESG projects at Onewo’s Sustainable Development Center, shared that reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in property management are key concerns for the company. Onewo is integrating its experience from managing various spaces, such as communities and office buildings, into its “Magic Stone” AI system, focusing on energy management to improve carbon management efficiency in public spaces and encourage owners and tenants to adopt greener lifestyles.

The roundtable discussion focused on two main themes: “Collaborative Innovation of Diverse Forces in Creating New Productive Forces” and “Empowering Green Value Chains to Drive the Green Transformation of Economic and Social Development”. Representatives from leading companies such as JA Solar, Anta Group, Lenovo, Carbonstop, PES, Exiss, ACT, Dasso, Hainan Deeprock, and SQUAKE participated in the discussion. The Secretary of the CPC Municipal Committee of Huzhou City, Chen Hao, also joined via video to introduce the innovative concept of “Bamboo Forest Carbon Sequestration.”

The organizers stated that the side event was not only a deep exploration of green development concepts but also a firm commitment to future sustainable development. C Team plans to further collaborate with nonprofit organizations, environmental foundations, leading enterprises, research institutions, and knowledge service platforms to jointly promote public and inclusive transformation, ensuring that high-quality training content is presented on the platform. Through collective effort and the pooling of knowledge and resources, the event sought to support industry development, regional transformation, and the green transformation of society.

About C Team：
C Team is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting corporate climate action and sustainable development.

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SOURCE C Team

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Urgent Call: Donate Electronics to Empower Charities Nationwide

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7 hours ago

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November 23, 2024

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TORONTO, Nov. 23, 2024 /CNW/ – This holiday season, the Electronic Recycling Association (ERA) is spreading the spirit of giving with its annual 12 Days of Electronic Giving campaign. Aiming to donate over 200 electronic devices to charities across Canada, ERA is committed to empowering organizations to deliver critical services to their communities.

However, the demand for electronics remains pressing. More than 500 charities are still on ERA’s waitlist—a number that highlights the urgent need for public and corporate donations of pre-loved technology.

“Together, We Can Create Impact”
Bojan Paduh, Founder and President of ERA, urges individuals and businesses to step up this holiday season:

“We’ve accomplished so much, but hundreds of charities are still waiting for essential technology to continue their work. I encourage everyone to consider donating their unused laptops, tablets, or cell phones. Your generosity can transform lives and reduce e-waste at the same time.”

ERA’s 12 Days of Electronic Giving campaign is already making an impact, supporting a wide range of organizations across the country, including:

Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton – Edmonton, ABWinnipeg Humane Society – Winnipeg, MBBent Arrow Traditional Healing Society – Edmonton, ABCanadian Mental Health Association – Toronto, ONYork Region Educational Services – Toronto, ONIt Takes a Village Community Outreach and Advocacy – Halifax, NSToronto Fringe – Toronto, ONMarina Housing Co-op – Vancouver, BCAgape Table Inc. – Winnipeg, MBGreater Edmonton Live-In Society – Edmonton, ABEqual Housing Initiative Inc. – Winnipeg, MBValley Community Learning Association – Kentville, NSAlberta Children’s Hospital – Calgary, AB

How You Can Help
The holidays are the perfect time to give back. If you or your organization have unused electronic devices gathering dust, ERA invites you to donate and make a meaningful difference. Whether it’s a laptop, tablet, or cell phone, every device can create opportunities, reduce e-waste, and bring hope to someone in need.

Donating is Simple
ERA offers convenient, free pickup services across Canada.

Call: 1-877-9EWASTE / Email: info@era.ca / Visit: www.era.ca to schedule a pickup.

Let’s Make This Season Count
“Your donation today can change lives tomorrow,” adds Paduh. “Together, we can meet the urgent needs of these charities while fostering a sustainable future.”  Don’t wait—help ERA ensure no charity is left behind this holiday season.

SOURCE Electronic Recycling Association

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