Sustainability is fast becoming a priority for every sector in the UK economy. A combination of public pressure, business resilience and regulation are leading businesses to consider how they can improve their ESG credentials. This comes with many challenges which technology strives to address, but these challenges are compounded when the complexity of international trade relations are factored in.  

Countries across the world are all at different stages on their sustainability journey and will all have completing domestic priorities which they have to contend with. We believe that the deployment of digital technology can improve the adoption of sustainable trade practices across the world. Policy can also be designed to scale the trade in clean tech globally, helping to decarbonise other sectors like energy and agriculture.  

This event will look at international trade in the tech sector through the lens of sustainability. The day’s agenda will include:  

  • Free Trade Agreements and the role of sustainable trade chapters for sustainability  

  • Increasing the trade of clean tech between the UK and Non-EU countries 

  • Digital transparency for sustainable trade and supply chain digitalisation.  

We will hear from academics, NGOs, the business community, and Government on the current trends in these three areas and discuss implications and opportunities for the tech economy in the UK.  

Agenda 

10:00 – 11:00 

5 mins intros 

40 min panel 

10 min Q&A 

Panel: International Trade and Sustainability 

  • Review the role of Sustainable Trade Chapters in driving sustainability in new and existing FTAs. 

  • Sustainability challenges when establishing new FTAs: Countries with poor ESG credentials, supply chain risks inc. forced labour and environmental harms. 

  • Lessons learned in promoting sustainable trade: Tech supply chains/leveraging FTAs 

Emily Reid [Confirmed] 

AusTrade (Confirmed) 

11:00-11:10 

Short Break 

 

11:10 – 11:30 

Presentations: Innovation in practice – Showcase member x2 

 

11:30 – 12:30 

5 mins intros 

40 min panel 

10 min Q&A 

Panel: The Role of Tech in Trade Sustainability  

  • Digital Transparency in supply chains 

  • Tackling exploitation in country (Voice Recognition Tech) 

  • Trade “wins” for clean tech  

  • How can clean tech be targeted in new FTAs 

 

12:30  

Close 

 

 

For more information please contact:

Adam Young

Adam Young

Programme Manager, Environment, techUK

Lucas Banach

Lucas Banach

Programme Assistant, Data Centres, Climate, Environment and Sustainability, Market Access, techUK

 


techUK – Committed to Climate Action

By 2030, digital technology can cut global emissions by 15%. Cloud computing, 5G, AI and IoT have the potential to support dramatic reductions in carbon emissions in sectors such as transport, agriculture, and manufacturing. techUK is working to foster the right policy framework and leadership so we can all play our part. For more information on how techUK can support you, please visit our Climate Action Hub and click ‘contact us’.