ESG: the 2030 Agenda and the + digital inclusion of the SDGs

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Social media, streaming, live, e-learning, e-finance, e-sports… among hundreds of terms and applications we use daily on the internet, we are moving toward a reality—unimaginable in the 20th century—of a fully connected world. Connecting is a collective, human, and social act that Brazilians have quickly adapted to. But how does connectivity relate to the ESG agenda?

It relates to everything! So much so that, in 2018, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) created the Connect 2030 Agenda to accelerate the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the 2030 Agenda through five drivers: access to the digital economy; internet access for all; sustainable growth of ICTs; digital transformation supported by innovation; and cooperation among various stakeholders. Today, we are in the "decade of action" of the 2030 Agenda, and the common perception is that the world needs to accelerate this agenda.

Here in Brazil, the goal of "internet access for all" has already been present in public policies and private sector investments since the early days of the universalization of fixed telephony and value-added services. The latest World Bank data shows that since privatization in 1998, internet access has grown from 1.48% of the population to 80.69% in 2021. If we look at just the last five years, we see that 20% of the Brazilian population has gained internet access. That is significant. In the same period, on a global scale, the Global Connectivity Report 2022, published by ITU, points to an increase from 3% to 63% in internet users worldwide. A strong indicator of social development!

Programs such as Wi-Fi Brasil, Nordeste e Norte Conectado, and obligations arising from the 5G auction are recent examples of public policies. The power of social development brought by connectivity goes beyond the common perception present in SDG 4 – Quality Education or SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth. Internet of Things (IoT) devices can facilitate smart water and sanitation management, for example, by measuring consumption and monitoring quality, contributing to SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation. Or, as we are witnessing, making agriculture more data-driven to increase crop yields, aligning with SDG 2 – Zero Hunger and Sustainable Agriculture.

Encouraging and facilitating access to capital resources needed for infrastructure investments is still part of the chapter on Brazil’s digital gap. The latest TIC Domicílios survey shows that 20% of Brazilians still do not have internet access (40% in socioeconomic classes D and E). Digital inclusion is both a challenge and one of the most relevant contributions to economic growth, GDP expansion, and reducing inequalities within the sector’s ESG agenda.

Internet penetration and usage in Brazil, comparable to standards in the European Union, North Asia, and the Americas, is an excellent reality for the sector. Entering the "decade of action" journey means working toward a more inclusive and digital reality—closing the coverage gap (especially in the North and Northeast), addressing the usage gap (prices and devices, for example), and ensuring that speed standards exceed the basic level for everyone. We still have seven years ahead!

By Marcio Lino, originally published in Teletime News on June 2nd, 2023