Key Message
There is great potential to transform sustainable development through the interface of technology and social organization, but also great risk that the technology may drive unsustainable practices instead.
Team
 | · Heather Creech Director - Global Connectivity | |
 | · Ben Akoh Project Manager | |
 | · Caroline Lewko Associate | |
| · David Souter Associate | |
 | · Don MacLean Associate | |
 | · Leslie Paas Associate | |
 | · Maja Andjelkovic Associate | |
Internet and Technology
Exploring the role of the Internet and supporting technologies, sector actors, applications and actions in sustainable development
What's New in Internet and Technology?
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Africa Transformation-Ready: The strategic application of information and communication technologies to climate change adaptation in Africa.
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have had an increasing impact on economic and social development over the past two decades, resulting from their capacity to generate and disseminate information, to facilitate the coordination of different actors in and beyond government, and to make government, business and development processes more efficient. These three capacities are as relevant to climate change adaptation as they are to other fields, though the extent of experience in deploying ICTs for adaptation is currently less than in other development fields such as health and education.
This publication explores these transformative capacities in the area of climate change adaptation in Africa by mapping out key challenges and opportunities; drawing on case studies from three countries, Senegal, Malawi and Uganda; and suggesting policy approaches, practical actions, and interventions that can contribute to building adaptation capacities using ICTs. -
Preparing the grounds for the West Africa Internet Governance Forum (PDF 930 KB)
The Internet, mobile communications, and related technologies are significant for global sustainability because they put the power to change the world in the hands of communities, small organizations, voluntary groups, and individuals, not just in the hands of governments, large organizations, and institutions. This document focuses on a survey that was conducted by IISD in seven West African countries to explore whether there is interest in increasing dialogue around these technologies, their evolution and the use of the Internet. It recognizes recent advancements in the area and offers some suggestions and recommendations on how to build on these foundations. -
University Data Centres: Policy and business case for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Data centres are one of the fastest growing contributors to greenhouse gas emissions globally. This study reviews the business case for reducing emissions through relocation or modification of data centres at universities, along with the policy implications and opportunities. The work was supported through Canada's Advanced Research and Innovation Network (CANARIE)'s Green IT program. -
ICTs, the Internet and Sustainable Development: Towards a new paradigm (PDF - 5.7 MB)
Two issues of profound importance lie at the heart of current thinking about the development of global economies and societies: the challenge of environmental sustainability, and the potential of information and communications technology. This paper explores the intersection between these two issues and the emergence of the concepts of the green economy and the digital economy, and calls for greater dialogue and interaction between sustainable development and ICT/Internet public policy-makers and activists.
Our growing dependence on Internet technology as the backbone of a global society seems unprecedented. Many aspects of international trade and finance are now dependent on the integrity and global connectedness of the Internet. The choices we make regarding how we govern Internet technology could have far-reaching implications for economic, social and environmental sustainability.
Deregulation in many industrialized countries has encouraged an explosion of communication offerings. As a result, telephone, cable television and Internet service providers are increasingly invading each other's traditional markets, resulting in the convergence of voice, data and computing technology delivered over a combination of new and legacy infrastructure. These trends suggest a future where one will be able to connect to the Internet anywhere and at any time, as well as a future where the Internet will be the foundation for all information and communication exchanges. In other words, the future of global connectivity is that of the Internet itself.
Strengthening our understanding of the critical uncertainties[1] about tomorrow's Internet is crucial for understanding what form the global connectivity system[2] may take. The policies and agreements enacted by international, national and multistakeholder bodies to address critical Internet uncertainties could play a pivotal role in guiding the evolution of the global connectivity system and determining whether the transformations it is catalyzing contribute to global sustainability.
For example, failure to address how technology choices could be limiting access and use by emerging stakeholders could result in an eventual slowing of Internet adoption and the final few billion users never joining the Internet community or having only partial access. Further, failure to resolve disputes over perceived inequities could lead some decision-makers to choose the path of fragmenting the Internet as a last resort for addressing their local needs.
The research and work of the Global Connectivity team at IISD examines how technology, in particular information and communication technology (ICT), is supporting and changing how we organize our governing systems, our economies and our cultures, in unprecedented ways. This research and work is focused on three areas:
Contents
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Policy and Governance
The Internet now underpins most aspects of our economies and societies in the global North, and increasingly also does so in the South. Technologies supporting the Internet are also being applied to the development of innovative ecosystem management systems, including energy and climate change solutions. Therefore, good governance of the Internet and its related technologies is necessary for progress on economic, social and environmental challenges. -
ICTs and the Environment
It is becoming increasingly clear that we are unlikely to avoid major environmental challenges resulting from unsustainable practices to date. Our best option in many cases will be to enhance our capacity to predict and track such changes, develop appropriate management and adaptation strategies, and plot a course toward better environmental management. ICTs offer promising solutions for supplying the detailed trend and real-time data required for this approach to be effective. Examples include smart grids, wireless sensor networks and social networking for transformative change. At the same time, the sustainability of these technologies must also be managed to avoid unintended consequences such as increased consumption and environmental damage from electronic waste. -
Social Transformation
Large-scale economic and social choices made by individuals, organizations and communities about how to use ICTs to change their structures and behaviours will play a potentially significant role in determining whether there is a successful global response to the challenge of achieving sustainable development. For example, youth are a dominant force behind the development and adoption of social networking applications, which are just beginning to reveal their potential for facilitating transformative change. Youth and ICTs have long been a major area of focus for IISD through the engagement of young people as researchers, leading creators and earliest adopters of information and communications technologies.
[1] For more on Internet critical uncertainties, see "Critical Internet Uncertainties: How will governance, evolution and growth of the Internet affect sustainable development?"
[2] For more on the Global Connectivity System, see "The ICT Sector and the Global Connectivity System: A sustainable development overview"
Key Publication
Internet Governance and Sustainable Development: Towards a Common Agenda
» Don MacLean, Maja Andjelkovic, Tony Vetter, IISD, 2007.Early in 2007, in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, IISD commissioned exploratory papers to be written from the perspective of the Internet governance and sustainable development communities, with the aim of discovering where links between these two communities of researchers and practitioners could be fostered. Can a dialogue between them contribute to mitigating degradation of natural and human environments in developed and developing countries, help avoid the economic marginalization of developing countries facing digital exclusion from global markets, and help maintain and promote cultural diversity and traditional knowledge? Internet Governance and Sustainable Development contemplates such questions and stimulates further dialogue. More...
Our Knowledge
» Themes
- Adaptation and Risk Reduction
- Climate Change and Energy
- Economics and SD
- Education, Learning and Leadership
- Environment, Conflict and Peacebuilding
- Gender Equity
- Governance for Sustainable Development
- Internet and Technology
- International Trade
- Investment and Sustainable Development
- Measurement and Assessment
- Natural Resources
- Networks & Partnerships
- Sustainable Markets
» Initiatives
- Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI)
- The Sustainable Commodity Initiative (SCI)
- Sustainability Leadership Innovation Centre (SLIC)
- Water Innovation Centre (WIC)
