Innovative research directions on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles in the context of intelligent computing technologies

In his keynote speech, Prof. Lowry addresses the pressing issues of global environmental, social, and governance challenges and presents ESG as a critical framework for sustainable development. He outlines the interconnected nature of these challenges, emphasizing the need for integrated and intelligent approaches to tackle them effectively. • Environmental Issues: Prof. Lowry highlights the urgency of addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource depletion. Climate change is driven by rising greenhouse gases, resulting in global temperature rise, increased CO2 levels, and sea-level rise. Biodiversity is under threat due to habitat destruction and species extinction. Pollution affects air, water, and soil, leading to severe health and ecological consequences. Resource depletion, particularly of water, minerals, and fossil fuels, threatens global sustainability. • Social Issues: Key social challenges include poverty, inequality, health crises, and educational disparities. Poverty affects millions, with COVID-19 exacerbating the situation. Inequality manifests in economic, gender, and racial disparities, limiting access to resources and opportunities. Health crises, such as pandemics and lack of healthcare access, undermine global well-being. Educational disparities hinder development, with significant numbers of children and adults lacking access to quality education. • Governance Issues: Governance challenges, including corruption, lack of transparency, political instability, and weak rule of law, impede sustainable development. Corruption diverts public resources and erodes trust in institutions. Transparency is essential for accountability and informed citizen participation. Political instability disrupts governance and economic development, while weak rule of law leads to injustice and human rights abuses. ESG and Intelligent Computing: Prof. Lowry argues for integrating ESG principles with intelligent computing technologies, such as AI, machine learning, data analytics, and IoT, to enhance ESG practices. These technologies can predict environmental impacts, optimize resource management, ensure fair labor practices, enhance transparency, and engage stakeholders. He presents case examples of Unilever and Singapore's Smart Nation Initiative, demonstrating successful applications of intelligent computing in addressing ESG issues.

Research Opportunities: Prof. Lowry concludes by calling for trans-disciplinary collaboration and innovative research to harness intelligent computing for ESG, driving sustainable and equitable global development. In doing so, he identifies research opportunities in AI for climate change mitigation, sustainable supply chain management, environmental monitoring, social impact analysis, governance enhancement, and circular economy promotion. By advancing research in these areas, intelligent computing can significantly contribute to sustainable development and address critical ESG challenges.