World survey suggests major technology changes

A new global survey by the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) suggests that a technological overhaul of production processes worldwide is needed to end poverty and avert the likely impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. Launched at The Australian National University today, the World Economic and Social Survey is an annual flagship report of UN-DESA which this year is called The Great Green Technological Transformation. ANU PhD scholar and one of the lead authors of the 2009 report, Imran Habib Ahmad, launched the report in Australia. He said this year's report revealed that major investments would be needed worldwide in areas such as the development and scaling up of clean energy technologies, sustainable farming and forestry technique and climate-proofing of infrastructure. 'This report will be a very helpful contribution to the ongoing national policy discussions on climate change and green economy developments in both developed and developing countries,' he said. 'It details the measures needed to undertake a fundamental technological transformation, not only to promote growth, but also to help reach the goal of full decarbonisation of the global energy system by 2050. 'This survey nicely builds on the 2009 survey Promoting Development, Saving the Planet of which I was one of the lead authors.