BSA | The Software Alliance brought together stakeholders for a dinner discussion in Washington, DC, last week around “Leveraging Software for a Sustainable Future” in partnership with the Meridian International Center. The event explored how software and digital technology can be leveraged to drive a sustainable future as a force multiplier, maximize environmentally efficient designs, and fuel economic development with comparatively low environmental impact, among other ways.
Steve Rochlin, Founder and CEO of Impact ROI, moderated the discussion with welcome remarks from Ambassador Stuart Holliday, CEO of Meridian, and Victoria Espinel, President and CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance. Attendees included U.S. government officials from the National Economic Council, State Department, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and Commerce Department, senior foreign diplomats, software industry professionals, think tank scholars, and other experts in related fields.
The discussion uncovered areas of potential cooperation between industry and governments worldwide, with attendees calling for increased cross-sectoral collaboration. Participants noted the extensive practical experience the software industry has to share – particularly about how policies can create an atmosphere for innovation and sustainability and how governments can continue to leverage industry partnerships to garner public support for technology-enabled solutions.
BSA members in attendance shared how software-enabled solutions have contributed to advancing sustainable development goals – whether by integrating energy-efficient design elements into architectural plans, providing technology to environmental advocates pro-bono, or creating employment opportunities for women and girls.
The impacts of data localization trends on sustainability was a recurring topic. Attendees also emphasized the need to improve infrastructure in developing countries to enable technology uptake and help solve sustainability challenges. Finally, participants noted the promise that software holds for more successful carbon capture methods – a key obstacle in achieving carbon neutrality.
BSA members are deeply committed to environmental stewardship, responsible business practices, and investing in a sustainable future. To this end, BSA will continue to create spaces for cross-industry stakeholders to collaborate and raise awareness around sustainability and other important global issues.
