SustainabilitySustainabilityin thein the

Information SocietyInformation SocietyEMPA, St. Gallen, 14/02/01

Matthias MengereMail: m@tteo.de

dipl.-ing.+ dipl. umt · c.-matthias menger m@tteo.de

OverviewOverview

• Sustainability

• ...in the Context of the Information Society

• Positive Effects

• Negative Effects

• Goals

• Research Tasks

• Conclusion

dipl.-ing.+ dipl. umt · c.-matthias menger m@tteo.de

SustainabilitySustainability

Definition supported by UNCED (Rio 1992)

‘development that meets the present needs without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet

their own needs’

dipl.-ing.+ dipl. umt · c.-matthias menger m@tteo.de

Sustainability becomes a more and more relevant issue in all politics!

...in the Context of the Information ...in the Context of the Information SocietySociety

development in 3 pillars is related to the Information Society

• environmental sustainability

• social sustainability

• economic sustainability

eEurope2002 initiative underpin the transition to an IS

... current process leads to positive and negative Effects

dipl.-ing.+ dipl. umt · c.-matthias menger m@tteo.de

Positive EffectsPositive Effects• more available information - create more knowledge; decision support

(e.g. politicians) • accessibility - information (knowledge) for all; public awareness

• more transparency - influence all politics (e.g. public pressure); track success of measures

• new business models - create new jobs; substitute products

• service oriented - could lower individual consumption; dematerialization(less production / transport)

• more efficiency - use less resources for more ‘products’

(e.g. telematik for transport); less MIPS • faster growth - more wealth, ...

• ...but ...

dipl.-ing.+ dipl. umt · c.-matthias menger m@tteo.de

Negative EffectsNegative Effects• more available information - create more offers, products,

new consumption patterns• accessibility - digital divide of the society (rich-poor; old-young; ...)

• more transparency - more competition; shorter life-cycles

• new business models - ability of labour markets to cope with new patterns

• service oriented - need for life-long learning and ‘new skills’;

need for education facilities; create new demand• more efficiency - shorter product life-cycles; faster devaluation (e.g. ICT),

therefore more/new production/products• faster growth - progressive globalisation create more impact on the

environment, ...

• ...

dipl.-ing.+ dipl. umt · c.-matthias menger m@tteo.de

GoalsGoals• changing consumption patterns

• improve access for all

• changing production patterns

• changing labour patterns

• improve (life-long) education

• efficient use of resources

• de-couple growth and material intensity

• substitute ‘products’ by virtual services

...focus (at first) on the environmental impact

dipl.-ing.+ dipl. umt · c.-matthias menger m@tteo.de

Research TasksResearch Tasks• assess material intensity of processes (production; consumption; disposal; transport; storage)

• directly: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of electronic devices

• indirectly: potential to substitute, optimise, induce processes (transport,

traffic, products, production)

• identify ‘virtual substitutes’ (processes, products, ...)

• promote their advantages / benefits

• to create awareness• to support an change in patterns, lifestyle

dipl.-ing.+ dipl. umt · c.-matthias menger m@tteo.de

ConclusionConclusionIs the Information Society only an ‘add-on’ to current

processes / patterns instead of replacement / change?? (production, consumption, impacts)

• assess (direct, indirect) environmental impacts • identify ‘virtual solutions’ and name their benefits • create awareness to change economic patterns + lifestyle

combine / related 6th Environmental Programme ‘Environment 2010 - Our Future, Our Choice’

with Information Society action plan ‘eEurope2002’

dipl.-ing.+ dipl. umt · c.-matthias menger m@tteo.de