Technology & Sustainability
Research Program
Technology
& Sustainability
We study the potential for digital technologies to contribute and accelerate the green transition. We explore the various ways in which digitalization and emerging technologies can be applied to support global efforts on climate change mitigation and adaptation around the world.
The question for us is whether humanity can turn this digital revolution into climate action and, most importantly, whether we can do it before it is too late.
Houlin Zhao
Secretary-General of the
International Telecommunications Union
Digitalization
facilitates green transition
Climate change is the single most defining challenge of our generation. Digital technologies offer unique opportunities to enable and accelerate the green transition by enabling a smarter use of resources, decarbonize sectors and help both industries and societies to adapt to the effects of climate change. We explore policy efforts within areas from circular economy to Industry 4.0 and digitalization of the energy sector.
15 %
Digital technologies holds the potential to cut global emissions by 15%.
Nishara Chathuranga
Listen to
Sir David Attenborough
The legendary wildlife filmmaker and lately instagram influencer explains why urgent action on climate change is crucial and why we need to save nature in order to save ourselves.
Dar riu
Misinformation
& climate change
Social media is a powerful tool to disseminate information and shape public discourse. Education and awareness-raising of the potential of ICTs and digital technology in monitoring climate change and mitigating and adapting to its effects is crucial to unleash the transformative solutions that will ensure a sustainable future. We study the effects of social media on climate change opinion, knowledge and behaviour, and how to tackle the challenge of climate misinformation.
Bridging digital and green strategies
On both national and international level, governments and companies are simultaneously reacting to two global transitions: the digital transition and the green transition. Finding the synergies between these agendias is necessary to avoid policy gaps and initiates outcompeting each other. Bridging the green and digital transition holds huge opportunities for attaining ambitious environmental goals that will help build a sustainable future.
Joris van Raij
Mocca Animation Studios
What is the carbon footprint of the digital sector?
Digitalization is often seen as the solution to all of our problems, but increased digitalization is in itself a part of the problem. The ICT sector is a significant contributor to both emissions through growing use of devices, expansion of data centers and cloud services. In addition, the growing amount of electronic waste is more often than not being dumped in landfills despite efforts of governments and companies to promote alternatives.
Closing the loop with digital solutions
What is a circular economy? As described by Ellen Macarthur, a circular economy is restorative and regenerative by design and aims to keep products, components, and materials at their highest utility and value at all times. Ultimately, circular economy is an information problem and digitally-enabled solutions can bridge this gap and enable the shift towards a smarter use of resources, dematerialization and transparency of products and materials.
Russ Ian Salas
Tom Fabre
50 million
The world generates
50 million tonnes of e-waste every year, equivalent to 4,500 Eiffel Towers - ce n’est pas cool!
Our Work
The series aims to raise awareness, engage and explore the role of technology and digital solutions in reaching the goals set out by the Paris Agreement in 2015. Furthermore, it will introduce the core topics that the Technology & Sustainability-cycle will work on in the coming months; (mis)information on social media, the environmental impact of technology and increased digitalisation and the role of green digital technologies.
Digitalisation must be steered in a way that benefits both people and the planet.
Misinformation on social media is a hurdle that threatens global efforts to address the climate crisis. What can be done about it?
Our Crew
Join Us Aboard
To solve global challenges we need interdisciplinary and diverse research teams. We offer a safe haven for digital castaways, creative sailors and curious explorers. Do you share the same passion for making our digital society just, democratic and
green?
Mark Arrow