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9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Investment in infrastructure and innovation are crucial drivers of economic growth and development. With over half the world population now living in cities, mass transport and renewable energy are becoming ever more important, as are the growth of new industries and information and communication technologies.

Technological progress is also key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and environmental challenges, such as providing new jobs and promoting energy efficiency. Promoting sustainable industries, and investing in scientific research and innovation, are all important ways to facilitate sustainable development.

More than 4 billion people still do not have access to the Internet, and 90 percent are from the developing world. Bridging this digital divide is crucial to ensure equal access to information and knowledge, as well as foster innovation and entrepreneurship.   

Read our stories to learn more about SDG Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

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News

Lights_Night_Chongqing_China
The surge in long-term liquefied natural gas contracts from China is sustaining regional production and prolonging fossil fuel dependency.
Typhoon Emong hits La Union in the Philippines, July 2025
Singapore's sovereign wealth fund says the odds of “delayed disorderly transition” and “too little too late” scenarios have risen amid current economic and geopolitical headwinds. State investor peer Temasek is also reviewing its baseline climate scenario.
Brick_Workers_Dhaka_Bangladesh
Bangladesh's drive to phase out clay bricks may clean the air but offers little help to vulnerable seasonal workers.
Palawan_UNEP_Coastal
Philippines' Palawan island pushes back on mining with 50-year moratorium, challenging the government's critical mineral ambitions.
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Opinion

A ship passes Kusu Island off the coast of Singapore, one of the world's busiest shipping routes
To facilitate the shift to low-carbon economies, developing nations must have reliable access to international markets. But regulations such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism are impeding poorer economies.
Rice_Farm_Flooded_Philippines_Typhoon
The International Court of Justice’s landmark opinion means big polluters must answer for climate harm.
Flood_City_Nature_Risks
With investors already confronting the consequences of environmental instability, there can no longer be any doubt that nature risk is financial risk. Asset owners, central banks and institutions like the International Monetary Fund have a responsibility to integrate this awareness into all their activities.
ICJ_Paris_Agreement_Opinion
In a landmark opinion, the world’s highest court says states must act on climate or risk breaching international law and human rights.
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Videos

KL petronas towers
EB Studio As Malaysia forges ahead with its 2050 net zero climate ambition, businesses must reshape their supply chains for a low carbon future. This Eco-Business video looks at how SMEs can adapt to new sustainability reporting requirements.
Cover image_The Liveability Challenge 2025_Innovation Dialogue
Funding for climate-related solutions has slowed down and it’s a ‘tough game’ for startups, said those familiar with the climate tech space at The Liveability Challenge Grand Finale 2025. What can founders and innovators do to bring an idea to commercialisation? And is Singapore an attractive-enough testbed?
Fireside chat with Dr Mark Konyn, AIA group chief investment officer
In this wide-ranging fireside chat moderated by Eco-Business CEO Jessica Cheam, AIA Group's chief investment officer Dr Mark Konyn asserts there is “no U-turn” among corporates invested for the long term, even as political regimes change amid a new world order.
KAS video intro
EB Studio From sponge cities to coastal forests, Asia is seeking ways to work with nature and prepare for the risks in a warmer-than-expected future. This Eco-Business video looks at what else cities need to do to strengthen climate resilience.
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Podcasts

Sustainability professional should not be prescriptive with their solutions, says Aun Abdullah of real estate company Lodha.
In the latest episode of 'On the frontlines', the real estate giant's ESG head tells the EB Podcast that while there has been no pushback on climate action by corporate India, questions remain over whether the booming real estate sector is decarbonising fast enough.
Tsim Tsa Tsui in Hong Kong
EB Studio CapitaLand sustainability chiefs Vinamra Srivastava and Giovanni Cossu tell the Eco-Business Podcast that there is a viable path to net zero for the world's fastest growing cities.
Airplane-contrails2
EB Studio With alternatives such as sustainable aviation fuel still too expensive and low in demand for the aviation industry to consider, carbon offsets could be a way to reduce emissions – if used right. EcoSecurities and the International Air Transport Association tell the Eco-Business podcast how airlines can ensure compliance when new regulations become mandatory
EB Podcast Dubai Sustainable City
Eyes are on whether the city’s plan to build the world’s “greenest highway” will take off. The Eco-Business Podcast speaks to Marwa Nahlawi from Diamond Developers, the real estate developer behind Dubai's "Sustainable City" brand, which adopts a similar green spine concept.
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