As part of the United Nations’ broader sustainable development agenda, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 seeks to foster international collaboration and reinforce global partnerships to support the implementation of all SDGs. Given the wide-ranging scope of its 19 targets, the focus is placed on four core themes, including [1]:
- Exploring efforts to enhance the effectiveness of public institutions and improve government revenue systems.
- Ensuring policy coherence in the pursuit of sustainable development.
- Addresses the need to expand access to technology and innovation, particularly in less developed regions.
- Highlights the critical role of multi-stakeholder partnerships in advancing collective progress
To successfully meet global development objectives, it is essential to develop and widely distribute technological solutions around the world. Advancing technology, fostering innovation, and generating breakthrough solutions will be key to achieving all targeted outcomes.
Following the importance of developing and distributing technological solutions globally, effective collaboration between public and private sectors becomes crucial. These partnerships play a key role in accelerating the creation, expansion, and transfer of sustainable technologies that support economic growth and social impact [2].
Challenges in Achieving SDG 17
Despite the global commitment to development goals, one of the most pressing challenges remains the significant disparity in income and wealth distribution. According to OECD data from 2015, the poorest 66 percent of the world’s population received only 13 percent of global income, while the wealthiest one percent controlled nearly 15 percent. Furthermore, approximately 50 percent of global wealth is concentrated in the hands of only one percent of the population [3]. This deep economic divide limits the capacity of less affluent nations and communities to engage actively in global partnerships due to a lack of institutional, technological, or financial resources.
Additionally, financial commitments made to support international development have often fallen short of agreed targets. Despite the United Nations setting a goal of allocating 0.7 percent of Gross National Income for Official Development Assistance in 1970, by 2019 only six countries had met or exceeded this benchmark. These countries are Turkey at 1.15 percent, Luxembourg at 1.05 percent, Norway at 1.02 percent, Sweden at 0.99 percent, Denmark at 0.71 percent, and United Kingdom at 0.70 percent [4]. This persistent funding gap further exacerbates disparities in resource distribution and hampers the ability of many countries to implement sustainable development projects.
By offering flexible and scalable access to digital platforms and tools, modern technological solutions help to reduce the barriers that hinder active participation in international cooperation. One of the most prominent examples of this is cloud computing, which has emerged as a key enabler of more inclusive and efficient global collaboration.
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is a technological model that enables seamless, on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources, such as networks, servers, storage, applications, and services. These resources can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal administrative effort or direct interaction with service providers [5].
Different services and models operate behind the scenes to ensure that cloud computing is practical and accessible to end users. Broadly, distributed computing functions under two primary operational models [6]:
- Deployment models define the accessibility of the cloud environment, determining how it is utilized. The cloud categorizes accessibility into four types: Private, Public, Hybrid, and Community.
- Service models define how a cloud interacts with a client, whether a user or an application, through various functionalities known as services. These models serve as the operational framework of cloud computing. Over time, three primary service models have emerged across the internet including infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), platform as a Service (PaaS), and software as a Service (SaaS).
How Cloud Computing Supports SDG 17
Cloud computing serves as an essential catalyst in SDG 17 by reducing technological and financial barriers that limit global partnerships. Its scalable and cost-effective infrastructure enables countries with limited resources to access advanced digital tools without substantial upfront investment in hardware or specialized personnel.
One concrete illustration of this potential is the Earth Observation Cloud Credits Programme, a joint initiative between the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) which allocated $1.5 million worth of cloud computing resources and technical assistance to support 21 projects in 17 developing nations [7].
Moreover, the relatively low cost of cloud services — which typically range from $25 to $199 per month in contrast to the higher expenses of dedicated servers that can reach between $99 and $1,500 or more per month highlights cloud computing as both an efficient and accessible tool for strengthening international collaboration and promoting the implementation of sustainable development initiatives [8].
In addition to offering financial flexibility, cloud computing also contributes to environmental sustainability by promoting more efficient energy use. According to studies conducted by Google, businesses can reduce their energy costs by approximately 60 to 85 percent simply by migrating their operations to cloud-based infrastructure [9]. This reduction is not only financially significant but also environmentally impactful, as lower energy consumption directly translates to a decrease in carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. This dual benefit reinforces the role of cloud computing as a strategic solution for fostering both economic efficiency and ecological responsibility, which aligns with the broader objectives of SDG 17 in promoting sustainable and inclusive global partnerships.
Conclusion
The growing reliance on digital infrastructure highlights the importance of solutions that are both accessible and sustainable. Cloud computing addresses this need by offering scalable resources that reduce financial constraints and technical limitations for many developing regions. Alongside its economic practicality, cloud-based systems also encourage more responsible energy consumption, helping lower carbon emissions through centralized and efficient data management. This combination of affordability, flexibility, and environmental awareness illustrates how modern technological frameworks can support more inclusive participation in global development efforts.
References
[1] A. Maltais, N. Weitz, and Å. Persson, “Stockholm Environment Institute SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals,” 2018.
[2] W. Leal Filho et al., “The added value of partnerships in implementing the UN sustainable development goals,” J Clean Prod, vol. 438, p. 140794, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.140794.
[3] C. Dahlman and S. Mealy, “Obstacles to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: Emerging Global Challenges and the Performance of the Least Developed Countries.”
[4] O. Stokke, “The Follow-Up on the 0.7% Target: A Bird’s-Eye Perspective,” in International Development Assistance, Springer International Publishing, 2019, pp. 41–52. doi: 10.1007/978–3–030–06219–4_3.
[5] N. B. Ruparelia, Cloud computing. Mit Press, 2016.
[6] M. I. Malik, S. H. Wani, and A. Rashid, “CLOUD COMPUTING-TECHNOLOGIES.,” International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science, vol. 9, no. 2, 2018.
[7] Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, “GEO-AWS Earth Observation Cloud Credits Programme harnesses big data for decision-makers in developing countries,” Data4SDGs, Jun. 25, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.data4sdgs.org/news/geo-aws-earth-observation-cloud-credits-programme-harnesses-big-data-decision-makers
[8] M. Biplab Biswas, “Sustainable Development through Cloud Computing,” American International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences AIJRHASS, pp. 15–175, 2015, [Online]. Available: http://www.iasir.net
[9] P. Bajdor, The Environmental Benefits of Cloud Computing. 2016. [Online]. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317310468