What Is It?
Did you know that less than 60% of the population uses the internet? That statistic is somewhat initially shocking, just because those of us who do have access to it completely take it for granted; it is imbued into every part of our lives. As we know, the internet opens up an infinite number of possibilities, and quite frankly, what with Covid 19’s catalytic role with shifting everything online, online access is crucial for educational and professional purposes. While this brings attention to the further widening economic gap due to Covid-19, it also shows how integral innovation is. Without continuous innovation, fewer people would have access to the internet, and the internet would not be such A powerhouse, if it existed at all. This is one small example of how innovation is absolutely integral to run a successful economy, and to continuously progress. Without innovation, we would still be stuck in history!
Industry and infrastructure are also indescribably important, and go hand-in-hand. Infrastructure - be it educational, health, or transport - are the foundations to run a country and have a scuccesufl economy. These pillars of society must be continuously funded and - that’s right - innovated upon! This can only take place with industry leaders on board.
This goal aims to build “resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation”. This means having strong systems in place to maximize efficiency and sustainable economic growth and industrialization, with innovation a core component of expansion.
Innovation and industrialization has been seen throughout history - most famously, the Industrial Revolution. In today‘s society, this includes increasing access to financial services and markets - making it easier for everyone to access banks and finance, so more people can have means of adequate support.
I feel that the necessity for this goal is quite self explanatory - where would we be if industrialization - the creation of industries on a large scale - didn’t exist? If we each had to provide every service and good for ourselves? It wouldn’t make much sense, would it? And as I mentioned before, if innovation wasn’t around, we’d remain stagnant. In fac, that’s a big problem in recessions; firms are trying to survive, not innovate, so new technology etc is not developed. And infrastructure is, I think, the easiest to see around us. Imagine if the healthcare infrastructure disappeared one day. The effects would be disastrous - on general citizens, healthcare workers, and everyone, really.
How Does It Relate to Sustainability?
Sustainability is expensive. There’s no real way around that. If costs are low, however, businesses will have enough retained profits to invest in sustainability. How could these costs be lowered? Innnvoation. Finding new ways to do things more efficiently will cut down on costs in all areas, for example hiring fewer people as new machinery has been bought. Hence, more innovation means more sustainability. This is also true for the other two aspects - an industrialized economy with strong infrastructure can afford to focus on sustainability.
Another angle is that sustainability is still relatively new and innovative. Not everything is set in stone; we’re still figuring out the best ways to be sustainable as people, businesses, and governments. We’re also trying to figure out how to incentivize people, businesses, and governments ot be sustainable. All of this is innovation. Innovation seems to be a particular buzzword in the sustainability space simply because mew ideas (evidence of innovation) are needed, be it large or small. Renewable energy is a great example of innovation, as is “green investing”. These are innovative, continuously improving, solutions that have reached large amounts of scale through infrastructure and industry.
What Can You Do?
This is one of those business-and-government-targeting goals, unfortunately, where the scalability of innovation is important. However, innovative mindsets can be cultivated from a young age, so why not start now?
Volunteer!
Volunteer at your favorite small, local nonprofit or NGO. Small organizations, particularly in the nonprofit or social impact sector, are filled to the brim with innovation. Volunteering in a sustainability NGO will teach you so much about sustainability as well as innovation, and how industry and infrastructure are used to bridge the gap between ideation and implementation.
Start something!
Research your area’s sustainability infrastructure.
While industrialization and infrastructure may not be in our hands right now, there is a-ways space to innovate in the context of sustainability, whether it’s in your own lives, your school, or your community.
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