Canberra on July 11 (QNA) – The Doha International Family Institute (DIFI) has participated in the expert group meetings held in the Australian city of Brisbane and the United Nations headquarters in New York, which discussed the mutual relationship between technological transformations and climate change and their impact on family structures.

The meetings were held in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the Social Sciences Research Institute at the University of Queensland.

The New York meeting came out with a series of recommendations, the most important of which were the need to develop and implement family support programs that will enhance sound communication skills and manage relationships within families to contribute to reducing divorce rates, enhancing family stability with the aim of reducing the environmental risks of divorce, and consolidating the concept of environmental sustainability.

The meetings brought together elite experts from across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region to discuss the impact of technology and climate change on family and community dynamics in the regions.

In this regard, Dr. Khaled Al Naama, Director of the Family Research and Policy Department at the Doha International Family Institute, stressed in the expert group meeting that the relationship between technological progress and climate change represents a challenge for families throughout the region, considering that technology has the ability to bridge the gaps and enable families, enhancing the balance between work and family.

For her part, Dr. Lisa McDade, Director of the Social Sciences Research Institute, pointed out the presentation of the results of the latest research conducted by the participating experts in order to assess the knowledge gaps and develop solutions on how technology can bridge the digital gaps within families.

She noted that the meetings outcomes focus on ensuring a sustainable future for families and societies in an ever-changing environment.

Dr. Ahmed Arif, Director of Planning and Content at the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), chaired a session entitled “Digital Literacy, Artificial Intelligence and the Future: Exploring the Landscape for Families and Communities,” indicating that its recommendations will contribute to the global call to action that will be issued by the conference of the 30th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family.

In turn, Dr. Sharifa Noman Al Emadi, Executive Director of the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), gave a presentation on the achievements of previous expert group meetings in South Africa and the Middle East, noting the importance of recognizing the family as a factor for sustainable development, and giving priority to social development through effective family-oriented policies, at the national and international levels.

She called for the development of digital literacy programs and digital parenting programs in response to technological progress and new usage patterns.

In their meetings, the experts also addressed the topics of digital identity, screen time, and digital parenting, in addition to exploring practical tools that families can adopt, with a focus on environmentally friendly parenting, environmental anxiety management, community work, and intergenerational climate education.

The meetings concluded with brainstorming sessions to come up with a set of recommendations based on the scientific evidence presented, directed to governments, multinational companies, the private sector, and think tanks.

(QNA)