This World Wildlife Day, we are putting the spotlight on the power of digital innovation to forge a stronger connection between people and planet… especially when it comes to wildlife conservation.
Although we’re faced with the uphill battle of biodiversity loss — a staggering 69% decline in wildlife populations over 50 years — digital gives us so many reasons to hope.
Recent advances in Earth observation, AI, and connectivity are contributing to better and more actionable biodiversity insights.
For example, satellites are helping us monitor the state of species — including threat levels, population sizes, and habitat changes — in near-real-time.
These digital tools are vital to inform decisions that are driving real conservation impact on the ground – all over the world.
And let's not forget the power of digital in raising awareness, in helping me deliver this message to you, and in connecting hearts and minds across the globe to the plight of Earth’s most vulnerable and voiceless inhabitants.
We are living at a time of unprecedented technological innovation.
But the digital revolution is not just about making our lives more convenient or more connected.
It’s also about making our planet healthier and more sustainable.
And the true potential of digital technology in wildlife conservation is still largely untapped.
Using digital to help get the 2030 Agenda back on track is no longer just an opportunity – I believe it’s our moral responsibility.
So let’s continue collaborating to innovate, connect, and protect our wildlife with digital.
You can count on me — and on ITU — to do just that.
At stake is the survival of countless species, the health of our ecosystems, and the future of our planet for generations to come.