Sustainability of digital information services
| Published date | 02 September 2013 |
| Date | 02 September 2013 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-08-2012-0104 |
| Pages | 602-622 |
| Author | Gobinda Chowdhury |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Records management & preservation,Document management |
Sustainability of digital
information services
Gobinda Chowdhury
Centre for Information and Knowledge Management,
University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to propose a model which serves to illustrate that a number of factors are
responsible for, and contribute to, the different forms of sustainability of digital information services.
It also seeks to identify some areas of information research and their interrelationship in the context of
sustainability of digital information services.
Design/methodology/approach – This research is based on critical analysis of a range of research
and policy documents, and an environment scan, in different aspects of sustainability of information
systems and services. Recent and relevant past research studies as well as some relevant government
policies and initiatives have been critically analyzed in order to identify various factors that are said to
contribute to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of information services.
Findings – It is noted that the sustainability of information has not been studied within the
mainstream information science research. However, several previous research studies have produced
findings and models that can be used to achieve some aspects of sustainability of information. It is also
noted that various parameters of sustainability are inter-related and hence a proper research agenda
has to be prepared, and concerted research efforts are needed in order to be able to develop and
manage sustainable digital information services.
Practical implications – A model has been proposed showing the various factors to be studied for
achieving the economic, social and environmental sustainability of information services. Interrelations
among the different factors and their implications for sustainability of digital information systems
services are also discussed.
Originality/value – The model is expected to open new vistas for research in the economic, social
and environmental sustainability of digital information systems and services. It will develop new
tools, technologies and applications for building sustainable information systems and services
appropriate for the digital era.
Keywords Sustainabledevelopment, Digital informationservices, Sustainability,Social sustainability,
Economic sustainability, Environmentalsustainability
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Although the term sustainability is not new, it has gained a significant amount of
importance and attention over the past few years in every major international and
national policy document having implications on almost every modern day
business, institution and activity. Arguably the simplest and yet the most
appealing definition of sustainability was developed at the 1987 UN conference
where it was recognized that sustainable development means “meeting the needs
of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs” (UN, 1987). A similar definition that emphasizes on maintaining a
balance between nature, productivity and business has been provided by the US
Environmental Protection Agency:
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0022-0418.htm
JDOC
69,5
602
Received 20 August 2012
Revised 5 October 2012
Accepted 7 October 2012
Journal of Documentation
Vol. 69 No. 5, 2013
pp. 602-622
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0022-0418
DOI 10.1108/JD-08-2012-0104
Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can
exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other
requirements of present and future generations (EPA, n.d.).
In the UK legislation requires businesses to comply with minimum social and
environmental rules, and it is recognized that a sustainable business is the one that
works towards minimizing environmental and social impacts while ensuring financial
stability (Dimireva, 2012). There are three pillars of sustainability, namely, economi c
sustainability, social sustainability and environmental sustainability. They are
interrelated and inter-dependent, and in order to achieve sustainable development,
there is a need for an integrated approach to the three pillars of sustainable
development, namely, economic development, environmental protection and social
development (BIS, 2009, p. 8). Thus, in order to achieve a sustainable development in
any business sector we need to build systems and services that are economically,
environmentally as well as socially sustainable.
Although it sounds a rather simple proposition, it may not always be easy to
achieve all the three forms of sustainability at the same time; and sometimes measures
taken to achieve one form of sustainability may affect or compromise the other form(s)
of sustainability. For example, in order to achieve economic sustainability, one may try
to do businesses – production, distribution, etc. – using cheap sources of energy,
inefficient industries and technologies, cheap and unregulated labor market, etc. Such
an effort for achieving economic sustainability (by reducing costs) may compro mise
environmental sustainability and also in some way social sustainability by creating
inequality in the labor market, standard of living, quality of health and well-being of
the population, and so on. On the other hand, if one wants to use only clean energy and
most advanced industries and technologies then the resulting businesses and products
may be environmentally sustainable, but perhaps may be expensive, at least to begin
with, and therefore may not be economically sustainable; and this may also create
social inequality by compromising the affordability, well-being and quality of life of
the population, and so on.
Nevertheless, as stated earlier, it is extremely important to achieve all the three
forms of sustainability in order to make sustainable development. Consequently
measures are now being taken at the international, national and institution/corporate
levels to achieve sustainability in every type of business and industry. As a measure of
tackling the climate change, the UK government is committed to reducing its
greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050, relative to 1990 levels
(Department of Energy, 2012). For this, the Department of Energy & Climate Change
have developed a document called The 2050 Pathways Analysis which mentions that
“we need a transformation of the UK economy while ensuring secure, low carbon
energy supplies to 2050, and face major choices about how to do this” (De partment of
Energy, 2012). Similarly, DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs, UK) is developing a new set of sustainable development indicators to meet the
Government’s commitments to transparency and sustainable development (DEFRA,
2012). Similar measures are also being taken by other government departments, see, for
example, the Sustainable Development Action Plan of the UK Department for Business
Innovation and Skills (BIS, 2009).
This paper proposes a generic model to illustrate the issues and challenges
associated with the sustainability of digital information services. It draws on some past
Digital
information
services
603
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