sustain

ICTD is a growing research area at UW (see the Change website). A few weeks ago (February 17th), I went to a brown bag session at UW lead by Teresa Peters (formerly with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Global Libraries Program) who spoke about the environmental implications of ICTD. Specifically, what are the environmental impacts of information and communication technologies in the developing world, and how can we use these new technologies to improve the environment? Many of the questions she raises are relevant to the developed world as well.

Talk Abstract

Environmental issues cut across all areas of development, but in the area of information and communications technology for development (ICTD), many environmental costs and benefits appear in even starker contrast. ICT can serve as a valuable tool to help protect the environment – for example, as a means for monitoring and managing complex environmental systems. But technology also raises serious environmental concerns – especially for developing countries – in particular related to power and e-waste. Developing country governments expect to have the same opportunity to exploit natural resources as other countries have had on their path to development, and protecting the environment is often pitted against other more pressing development concerns. Yet, given what is known today about the risks to future generations if steps are not taken now to protect the environment, it is short-sighted not to consider the environmental aspects of any development activities. Since ICT plays such an important role in development, the environmental impact of increased ICT use in developing countries merits special attention.

Benefits
Teresa argues that ICT4D can help the global sustainability effort in the following ways (she expands on each of these in turn in a concept paper):

• Given the complexity involved, the ability to solve the global environmental challenges facing the planet may well depend on the effective use of ICT as a tool to monitor, collect, and analyze data, and implement coordinated solutions.
• The opportunity that ICT provides for improving information exchange also plays a critical role in environmental protection, helping people understand how their actions affect their world.
• The use of ICT can also improve efficiencies and lower costs in development projects – including environmental costs.

Downsides
Despite the benefits, Teresa argues that there are significant environmental downsides to increasing the use of ICT in developing countries, most notably energy consumption and e-waste.

• The question of power hangs in the air when development initiatives call for the introduction of electricity-hungry technologies, especially in geographies where the power grid already struggles to meet current demands. Innovation can help: integrating environmentally-friendly technologies and methods can help reduce the environmental impact of development.
• E-waste (including discarded computers, entertainment electronics, and communications equipment) is also a grave concern for development, because so much of the waste produced by the global consumer electronics industry is making its way – often illegally – to developing countries that are the least equipped to deal with the highly-toxic substances it contains.
• The problem is that e-waste recycling is costly and dangerous, and management of discarded materials is controversial because no one wants toxins in their own backyard.
• Part of the answer to the e-waste problem is to improve handling procedures and raise awareness about the risks of e-waste. Another part of the solution is for manufacturers to remove harmful materials from their product designs.

Critical Questions
Teresa ended with some critical questions:

• What are opportunities and best practices in the use of ICTs, the Internet and sensor networks in environmental management, energy efficiency, cleaner technologies and improved resource management?
• What are the overall magnitudes of the impacts of ICTs on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency? What are the impacts of digitalization and digital delivery on environmental performance? What are the environmental impacts of expanded use of ICTs in work and social organization? How have ICTs affected transport and logistics patterns and what is the potential for further improvements?
• Developing countries in particular will need a growing amount of energy to fuel their development, especially ICT4D. How can development be fueled in a sustainable way? What are realistic options for promoting a sustainable energy system in developing countries? What is the role of emerging markets in leading the way to a sustainable energy future? What have they managed to achieve so far and what potential is there for them to be leaders in alternative energy both in their own countries as well as around the globe? What are the respective roles of the government and private sector in charting the course to a sustainable energy future?
• To promote and scale out alternative energy technologies, government policies and financing opportunities need to be examined. How do governments develop their own regulatory and market incentive structures to address carbon emissions reductions in a way that fits with their own values, institutions, and economies? How can economies achieve GDP growth while reducing carbon emissions? What kinds of regulations, market structures and incentives are different countries exploring? How can the demand for, and use of, alternative energy be scaled out – particularly to support needed social and economic development around the world. How can needed financial support and incentives be provided? What are the sources of financing for shifting and scaling out energy technologies in emerging markets?