ICT as an enabler for sustainable development: reflections on opportunities and barriers
| Published date | 09 March 2015 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-12-2014-0061 |
| Pages | 19-23 |
| Date | 09 March 2015 |
| Author | Richard Bull |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance |
ICT as an enabler for sustainable
development: reections on
opportunities and barriers
Richard Bull
Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, De Montfort University,
Leicester, UK
Abstract
Purpose – Information and communications technology (ICT) offers a peculiar twenty-rst century
conundrum, as it offers both a cause and solution to rising carbon emissions. The growth in the digital
economy is fueling increased energy consumption while affording new opportunities for reducing the
environmental impacts of our daily lives. This paper responds and builds on Patrignani and
Whitehouse’s overview of Slow Tech by providing examples of how ICT can be used to reduce energy.
Encouraging examples are provided from the eld of energy and buildings and implications for wider
society are raised.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper builds on the previous overview “The Clean Side of
Slow Tech”, based on a comprehensive knowledge of literature of the latest developments in the eld of
digital economy, energy and sustainability.
Findings – This paper provides clear and encouraging signs of how ICT can be used to contribute to
sustainability through controlling systems more efciently, facilitating behavioural changes and
reducing energy consumption. Future challenges and recommendations for future research are
presented.
Originality/value – This conceptual paper presents the latest research into the use of ICT in energy
reduction and offers cautious, but encouraging signs that while the environmental impact of ICT must
not be overlooked, there are benets to be had from the digital economy.
Keywords Slow Tech, Digital economy, Green ICT, Smart buildings/cities
Paper type Conceptual paper
1. Introduction – the rise in the digital economy
There is increasing consensus around the need to tackle climate change. The UK is
leading the way with the 2008 Climate Change Act that enshrines legally binding and
ambitious targets for greenhouse gas emissions, specically a reduction of at least 80
per cent by 2050. Meeting these targets is going to require substantial changes at all
levels of society, yet it is often difcult to know where to begin. Much is made of the
increasing impact of air travel, for example, yet, as Patrignani and Whitehouse observe,
current global aviation emissions are approximately 2 per cent, the same as information
and communications technology (ICT) or the digital economy (James and Hopkinson,
2008). Yet, as things currently stand, this sector attracts nothing like the attention the
aviation sector does. In stimulating debate and future innovations in research, this
special section is a welcome addition.
In their paper, Patrignani and Whitehouse draw attention to the range of
environmental impacts affecting, and effected by, ICT, notably the production, use and
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/1477-996X.htm
ICT as an
enabler for
sustainable
development
19
Received 15 December 2014
Revised 15 December 2014
Accepted 16 December 2014
Journalof Information,
Communicationand Ethics in
Society
Vol.13 No. 1, 2015
pp.19-23
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
1477-996X
DOI 10.1108/JICES-12-2014-0061
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