Lorenz Hilty | University of Zurich, Switzerland (original) (raw)
Papers by Lorenz Hilty
Patterns, 2023
Information communication technology (ICT)’s environmental impact must be considered in digital i... more Information communication technology (ICT)’s environmental impact must be considered in digital innovation and associated policy to mitigate ICT’s climate change contribution. A proposed solution to reduce ICT emissions is by improving efficiency, yet this fails to consider rebound effects where efficiency improvements offset emissions savings or increase emissions. In this perspective, we reveal insights from a transdisciplinary workshop that identified challenges for why rebound effects are difficult to include in innovation and policy. From this, we call researchers to (1) find new ways of presenting rebound effects to digital innovators and policymakers; (2) gather cross-disciplinary evidence of ICT rebound effects; and (3) transparently analyze ICT’s environmental, societal, and economic impacts together. We also call for a systems thinking approach to addressing ICT’s environmental impacts, whereby a solution to rebound effects becomes visible: efficiencies under emission constraints.
Future Generation Computer Systems, 2024
In the past decade, research on measuring and assessing the environmental impact of software has ... more In the past decade, research on measuring and assessing the environmental impact of software has gained significant momentum in science and industry. However, due to the large number of research groups, measurement setups, procedure models, tools, and general novelty of the research area, a comprehensive research framework has yet to be created. The literature documents several approaches from researchers and practitioners who have developed individual methods and models, along with more general ideas like the integration of software sustainability in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, or science communication approaches to make the resource cost of software transparent to society. However, a reference measurement model for the energy and resource consumption of software is still missing. In this article, we jointly develop the Green Software Measurement Model (GSMM), in which we bring together the core ideas of the measurement models, setups, and methods of over 10 research groups in four countries who have done pioneering work in assessing the environmental impact of software. We briefly describe the different methods and models used by these research groups, derive the components of the GSMM from them, and then we discuss and evaluate the resulting reference model. By categorizing the existing measurement models and procedures and by providing guidelines for assimilating and tailoring existing methods, we expect this work to aid new researchers and practitioners who want to conduct measurements for their individual use cases.
Environmental Science and Policy, 2023
The relation between digitalization and environmental sustainability is ambiguous. There is poten... more The relation between digitalization and environmental sustainability is ambiguous. There is potential of various
digital technologies to slow down the transgression of planetary boundaries. Yet resource and energy demand for
digital hardware production and use of data-intensive applications is of substantial size. The world over, there is
no comprehensive regulation that addresses opportunities and risks of digital technology for sustainability. In
this perspective article, we call for a Digital Green Deal that includes strong, cross-sectoral green digitalization
policies on all levels of governance. We argue that a Digital Green Deal should first and foremost aim at greater
policy coherence: Current digital policy initiatives should include measures that service environmental goals, and
environmental policies must address risks and advance opportunities of digital technologies to spur sustainability
transformations.
Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2021/2022, 2023
Mit diesem Dokument legt die Universität Zürich (UZH) ihren dritten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht vor. I... more Mit diesem Dokument legt die Universität Zürich (UZH) ihren dritten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht vor. In den Berichtsjahren 2021 und 2022 hat die UZH entscheidende Voraussetzungen geschaffen, um in den kommenden Jahren in Forschung, Lehre, Betrieb und im Austausch mit der Gesellschaft substanzielle Beiträge zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung zu leisten. Dieser Bericht dokumentiert die entsprechenden Veränderungen und Aktivitäten. Die Auswahl der behandelten Themen erfolgte erstmals in Hinblick auf die am 29. September 2020 in Kraft getretene Umsetzungsstrategie 2030 zur Sustainability Policy. Am Ende jedes Kapitels gibt eine kurze Zusammenfassung Auskunft zum Stand der Umsetzung der jeweiligen Ziele und Massnahmen. Wie die früheren Berichte orientiert sich auch der vorliegende an den Zielen für nachhaltige Entwicklung der Vereinten Nationen (UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). Die Berichtsinhalte wurden im engen Austausch mit Expert*innen aus der UZH, in Einzelfällen auch mit externen Stakeholdern erarbeitet. Die einbezogenen Organisationseinheiten und externen Stakeholder entsprechen grösstenteils denen, die an den früheren Nachhaltigkeitsberichten mitgewirkt haben. Das Engagement dieser vielen Helfer*innen ist nicht nur für die Beschaffung der Daten für diesen Bericht unverzichtbar, sie leisten auch einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Bewusstseinsbildung für Nachhaltigkeit in der UZH.
Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2019/2020, 2021
Mit diesem Dokument legt die Universität Zürich (UZH) ihren zweiten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht vor. I... more Mit diesem Dokument legt die Universität Zürich (UZH) ihren zweiten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht vor. In den Berichtsjahren 2019 und 2020 hat die UZH entscheidende Voraussetzungen geschaffen, um in den kommenden Jahren auf allen Ebenen substanzielle Beiträge zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung zu leisten. Diese wichtigen Veränderungen in Forschung, Lehre, Betrieb und Austausch mit der Gesellschaft sind in diesem Bericht dokumentiert. Wie schon für den ersten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht wurden für die Berichterstattung international anerkannte Standards nach Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) und International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) berücksichtigt. Die Auswahl der behandelten Themen erfolgte unter anderem in Hinblick auf die Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung der Vereinten Nationen (UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs) und einer Wesentlichkeitsanalyse nach GRI-Standards, die für den ersten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht erstellt wurde. Die Berichtsinhalte wurden im engen Austausch mit über 90 Expert*innen aus den jeweils zuständigen Universitätseinheiten, in Einzelfällen auch mit externen Stakeholdern erarbeitet. Die einbezogenen Organisationseinheiten und externen Stakeholder entsprechen grösstenteils denen, die im Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2018 hinzugezogen wurden. Ohne die erneut engagierte Unterstützung dieser Personen wäre die Erstellung des vorliegenden Berichts nicht möglich gewesen.
Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2018, 2019
Das vorliegende Dokument ist der erste Nachhaltigkeitsbericht der Universität Zürich (UZH). Ziel ... more Das vorliegende Dokument ist der erste Nachhaltigkeitsbericht der Universität Zürich (UZH). Ziel des Berichts ist es, Beiträge der UZH zu nachhaltiger Entwicklung zu identifizieren, den Status quo im Berichtsjahr 2018 darzustellen, eine Grundlage für zukünftige Massnahmen zu schaffen und eine breite Diskussion über den Beitrag der UZH zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung anzuregen. Da dies die erste Ausgabe des Nachhaltigkeitsberichts der UZH ist, werden auch grundsätzliche Vorgehensweisen der UZH im Bereich der Nachhaltigkeit erläutert, und es werden, je nach Datenverfügbarkeit, auch Aktivitäten vor dem Berichtsjahr 2018 in die Darstellungen integriert. Darüber hinaus überschneiden sich die Inhalte des Nachhaltigkeitsberichts teilweise mit anderen Formen der Berichterstattung der UZH. In zukünftigen Nachhaltigkeitsberichten (eine Veröffentlichung ist alle zwei Jahre geplant) werden Überschneidungen vermieden und durch Verweise ersetzt. Für die Entwicklung der Berichtsinhalte wurden international anerkannte Standards nach Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) und International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) berücksichtigt und Nachhaltigkeitsberichte anderer Hochschulen ausgewertet. Die Auswahl der behandelten Themen erfolgte un- ter anderem in Hinblick auf die Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung der Verein- ten Nationen (UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). Die Berichtsinhalte wurden im engen Austausch mit über 150 Expertinnen und Experten aus den jeweils zuständigen Universitätseinheiten sowie zahlreichen externen Stakeholdern erarbeitet. Ohne die engagierte Unterstützung dieser Personen wäre die Erstellung des vorliegenden Berichts nicht möglich gewesen. Eine Liste aller Beteiligten ist dem Anhang zu entnehmen.
Most telecommuting (TC) studies focus on travel impacts and do not consider changes in time spent... more Most telecommuting (TC) studies focus on travel impacts and do not consider changes in time spent on non-travel activities (e.g. 'leisure') and the energy impacts of these changes. We demonstrate a time-use approach to assess interrelations between changes in commuting time and time spent on travel and non-travel activities and associated energy impacts. Time-use data analysis shows that spending less time on commuting is associated with more time spent on 'sleep', 'leisure', 'personal, household and family care', 'private travel' and 'eating and drinking'. Substituting car commuting with 'sleep', 'eating and drinking', common 'leisure' and 'personal, household and family care' activities is likely to reduce energy requirements as these are associated with less energy requirements than car commuting. This is different for 'private travel', 'meal preparation at home', and energy-intensive or out-of-home 'leisure' activities, which are associated with relatively high energy requirements. The commute modal split is a key variable in energy impacts of TC, because transport modes differ in their energy requirements. While car commuters can realize high energy savings through TC, for people who usually bike or walk to work, direct energy savings through reduced commuting are zero. Thus, any additional energy impact due to substitute activities, increases net direct energy requirements. Future research should further investigate the relationship between TC and time spent on (non-)travel activities and the marginal energy requirements of these activities. If so, the time-use approach can become key for assessing energy impacts of TC and other applications which impact individual time allocation.
5G mobile networks are intended to meet the increasing requirements placed on mobile communicatio... more 5G mobile networks are intended to meet the increasing requirements placed on mobile communications. Producing and operating 5G infrastructure causes direct effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Meanwhile, 5G is expected to support applications that contribute to GHG abatement. We investigated (i) the GHG footprint of 5G infrastructure, and (ii) the GHG abatement potential of four 5G-supported use cases (i.e., flexible work, smart grids, automated driving and precision farming) for Switzerland in 2030. Our results show that 5G infrastructure is expected to cause 0.018 Mt CO2e/year. Per unit of data transmitted, 5G is expected to cause 85% less GHG emissions in 2030 than today's 2G/3G/4G network mix. The four 5G-supported use cases have the potential to avoid up to 2.1 Mt CO2e/year; clearly more than the predicted GHG footprint of 5G infrastructure. The use cases benefit especially from ultra-low latency, the possibility to connect many devices, high reliability, mobility, availability and security provided by 5G. To put 5G at the service of climate protection, measures should be taken in two fields. First, the GHG footprint of 5G should be kept small, by installing only as much 5G infrastructure as required, running 5G with electricity from renewable energy sources, and decommissioning older network technologies once 5G is widely available. Second, the GHG abatements enabled by 5G-supported use cases should be unleashed by creating conditions that target GHG reductions and mitigate rebound effects. The final outcome depends largely on the political will to steer the development into the direction of a net GHG reduction.
Abstract. This introductory chapter provides definitions of sustainability, sustainable developme... more Abstract. This introductory chapter provides definitions of sustainability, sustainable development, decoupling, and related terms; gives an overview of existing interdisciplinary research fields related to ICT for Sustainability, including Environmental Informatics, Computational Sustainability, Sustainable HCI, and Green ICT; introduces a conceptual framework to structure the effects of ICT on sustainability; and provides an overview of this book.
While telecommuting (TC) research heavily discusses travel impacts of home-based TC, little is kn... more While telecommuting (TC) research heavily discusses travel impacts of home-based TC, little is known about impacts of working from a neighborhood TC center on travel and non-travel activities and their energy requirements. We conduct a case study on the impacts of the work location (employer's office, TC center, home) on time use and travel using data collected in a neighborhood TC center in Stockholm. Our results show that telecommuters more frequently replaced working from the TC center for working from the more distant employer's office than for working from home. On TC center and home office days, diarists spent less time traveling, and on home office days more time on chores and leisure than on employer office days. When working from the TC center instead of the employer's office, telecommuters frequently used the same or more energy-efficient commute modes, e.g. biking instead of the car, which was feasible because the TC center is in the local neighborhood. However, when working from home, diarists mainly used the car for private travel. Thus, energy savings of TC can be increased by providing energy-efficient transport options or local access to non-work destinations to telecommuters. TC energy impacts depend also on changes to energy requirements for nontravel activities, for space heating/cooling/lighting at all work locations, and systemic TC effects (e.g. residential relocation), which can only be observed in the long term. Thus, future TC assessments should take an even broader perspective in terms of travel and non-travel activities, their energy requirements, and systemic effects.
TATuP - Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis
In partizipativen TA-Projekten treffen Teilnehmende mit unterschiedlichen normativen Orientierung... more In partizipativen TA-Projekten treffen Teilnehmende mit unterschiedlichen normativen Orientierungen aufeinander. Wir stellen einen methodischen Ansatz vor, der alle Beteiligten dabei unterstützen soll, mit dieser Wertepluralität offen und transparent umzugehen, indem die Diskussion in einem Workshop mittels eines Online-Tools zur Befragung der potenziell Teilnehmenden vorbereitet wird. Die „LOTA“ (Landscape of Opinions for Technology Assessment) genannte Methode stützt sich auf globale Ziele, die den Teilnehmenden als normativer Referenzrahmen vorgegeben werden. Diese können Ziele auswählen und priorisieren und auf diese Weise ihre normativen Orientierungen ausdrücken. Das gleichnamige Software-Tool visualisiert eine „Meinungslandschaft“ basierend auf den Daten aus der Online-Befragung.
Sustainability
We present the main messages of a European Expert Round Table (ERT) on the unintended side effect... more We present the main messages of a European Expert Round Table (ERT) on the unintended side effects (unseens) of the digital transition. Seventeen experts provided 42 propositions from ten different perspectives as input for the ERT. A full-day ERT deliberated communalities and relationships among these unseens and provided suggestions on (i) what the major unseens are; (ii) how rebound effects of digital transitioning may become the subject of overarching research;
PloS one, 2018
We present an agent-based model of wood markets and show our efforts to validate this model using... more We present an agent-based model of wood markets and show our efforts to validate this model using empirical data from different sources, including interviews, workshops, experiments, and official statistics. Own surveys closed gaps where data was not available. Our approach to model validation used a variety of techniques, including the replication of historical production amounts, prices, and survey results, as well as a historical case study of a large sawmill entering the market and becoming insolvent only a few years later. Validating the model using this case provided additional insights, showing how the model can be used to simulate scenarios of resource availability and resource allocation. We conclude that the outcome of the rigorous validation qualifies the model to simulate scenarios concerning resource availability and allocation in our study region.
2016 Electronics Goes Green 2016+ (EGG), 2016
Product lifetimes and disposal pathways are essential aspects of dynamic material flow analyses (... more Product lifetimes and disposal pathways are essential aspects of dynamic material flow analyses (MFAs), which have often been used to model stocks and flows of electronic devices and the resources they contain. Existing studies mainly focus on the use and disposal of electronic devices by private consumers. The specific handling of business devices has rarely been assessed. This article presents the results of a study conducted in Switzerland in 2015, comprising interviews with 28 companies. Devices included are desktop and laptop and computers, mobile phones, monitors, televisions, external hard disk drives and servers. Results are compared to data collected from Swiss private consumers. The service lifetime and disposal pathways are fed into a dynamic MFA model to calculate the stocks and flows of business devices. With the example of indium, neodymium and gold, the material resources contained in these stocks and flows are illustrated.
Environment international, Jan 4, 2016
The fast penetration of nanoproducts on the market under conditions of significant uncertainty of... more The fast penetration of nanoproducts on the market under conditions of significant uncertainty of their environmental properties and risks to humans creates a need for companies to assess sustainability of their products. Evaluation of the potential benefits and risks to build a coherent story for communication with clients, authorities, consumers, and other stakeholders is getting to be increasingly important, but SMEs often lack the knowledge and expertise to assess risks and communicate them appropriately. This paper introduces LICARA nanoSCAN, a modular web based tool that supports SMEs in assessing benefits and risks associated with new or existing nanoproducts. This tool is unique because it is scanning both the benefits and risks over the nanoproducts life cycle in comparison to a reference product with a similar functionality in order to enable the development of sustainable and competitive nanoproducts. SMEs can use data and expert judgment to answer mainly qualitative and ...
Sciences Northwestern Switzerland offers at the School of Management majors in Economy such as Co... more Sciences Northwestern Switzerland offers at the School of Management majors in Economy such as Controlling, Human Resource Management, Marketing, and Information and Knowledge Management. In addition, it offers both a full-time and part time course of study in Information Systems. It is well-known for its further education activities ranging from conferences, seminars, and examination preparation to full-fledged graduate studies. The institute offers graduate programs in Non-Profit Organisation, Logistics, Corporate Design Management, and Personnel Management. Solothurn University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland is active in widely varied areas of economics research. The most noteworthy topics of research are in the areas of Industry, Innovation and Strategic Management, Human Resource Management, and Information and Knowledge Management. The results of this research are presented in our publication series and research seminars. Publication Series In this series, Solothurn University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, publishes the results of this research, with the aim of ensuring that colleagues as well as the public are informed on research activities and their ensuing results. To place orders for these publications, please refer to the order form at the end of this brochure.
Proc. iEMSs, 2002
Abstract: With ongoing differentiation of society and an increasing demand to consider sustainabi... more Abstract: With ongoing differentiation of society and an increasing demand to consider sustainability principles, instruments to support the assessment, design and control of complex socio-technical systems will gain importance. In this context, computer-based numerical models may play an essential role. We present a system dynamics based simulation system for plastics waste management and discuss the practical experiences made with this system. The simulation system–called EcoSolver IP-SSK-combines the ...
Patterns, 2023
Information communication technology (ICT)’s environmental impact must be considered in digital i... more Information communication technology (ICT)’s environmental impact must be considered in digital innovation and associated policy to mitigate ICT’s climate change contribution. A proposed solution to reduce ICT emissions is by improving efficiency, yet this fails to consider rebound effects where efficiency improvements offset emissions savings or increase emissions. In this perspective, we reveal insights from a transdisciplinary workshop that identified challenges for why rebound effects are difficult to include in innovation and policy. From this, we call researchers to (1) find new ways of presenting rebound effects to digital innovators and policymakers; (2) gather cross-disciplinary evidence of ICT rebound effects; and (3) transparently analyze ICT’s environmental, societal, and economic impacts together. We also call for a systems thinking approach to addressing ICT’s environmental impacts, whereby a solution to rebound effects becomes visible: efficiencies under emission constraints.
Future Generation Computer Systems, 2024
In the past decade, research on measuring and assessing the environmental impact of software has ... more In the past decade, research on measuring and assessing the environmental impact of software has gained significant momentum in science and industry. However, due to the large number of research groups, measurement setups, procedure models, tools, and general novelty of the research area, a comprehensive research framework has yet to be created. The literature documents several approaches from researchers and practitioners who have developed individual methods and models, along with more general ideas like the integration of software sustainability in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, or science communication approaches to make the resource cost of software transparent to society. However, a reference measurement model for the energy and resource consumption of software is still missing. In this article, we jointly develop the Green Software Measurement Model (GSMM), in which we bring together the core ideas of the measurement models, setups, and methods of over 10 research groups in four countries who have done pioneering work in assessing the environmental impact of software. We briefly describe the different methods and models used by these research groups, derive the components of the GSMM from them, and then we discuss and evaluate the resulting reference model. By categorizing the existing measurement models and procedures and by providing guidelines for assimilating and tailoring existing methods, we expect this work to aid new researchers and practitioners who want to conduct measurements for their individual use cases.
Environmental Science and Policy, 2023
The relation between digitalization and environmental sustainability is ambiguous. There is poten... more The relation between digitalization and environmental sustainability is ambiguous. There is potential of various
digital technologies to slow down the transgression of planetary boundaries. Yet resource and energy demand for
digital hardware production and use of data-intensive applications is of substantial size. The world over, there is
no comprehensive regulation that addresses opportunities and risks of digital technology for sustainability. In
this perspective article, we call for a Digital Green Deal that includes strong, cross-sectoral green digitalization
policies on all levels of governance. We argue that a Digital Green Deal should first and foremost aim at greater
policy coherence: Current digital policy initiatives should include measures that service environmental goals, and
environmental policies must address risks and advance opportunities of digital technologies to spur sustainability
transformations.
Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2021/2022, 2023
Mit diesem Dokument legt die Universität Zürich (UZH) ihren dritten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht vor. I... more Mit diesem Dokument legt die Universität Zürich (UZH) ihren dritten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht vor. In den Berichtsjahren 2021 und 2022 hat die UZH entscheidende Voraussetzungen geschaffen, um in den kommenden Jahren in Forschung, Lehre, Betrieb und im Austausch mit der Gesellschaft substanzielle Beiträge zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung zu leisten. Dieser Bericht dokumentiert die entsprechenden Veränderungen und Aktivitäten. Die Auswahl der behandelten Themen erfolgte erstmals in Hinblick auf die am 29. September 2020 in Kraft getretene Umsetzungsstrategie 2030 zur Sustainability Policy. Am Ende jedes Kapitels gibt eine kurze Zusammenfassung Auskunft zum Stand der Umsetzung der jeweiligen Ziele und Massnahmen. Wie die früheren Berichte orientiert sich auch der vorliegende an den Zielen für nachhaltige Entwicklung der Vereinten Nationen (UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). Die Berichtsinhalte wurden im engen Austausch mit Expert*innen aus der UZH, in Einzelfällen auch mit externen Stakeholdern erarbeitet. Die einbezogenen Organisationseinheiten und externen Stakeholder entsprechen grösstenteils denen, die an den früheren Nachhaltigkeitsberichten mitgewirkt haben. Das Engagement dieser vielen Helfer*innen ist nicht nur für die Beschaffung der Daten für diesen Bericht unverzichtbar, sie leisten auch einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Bewusstseinsbildung für Nachhaltigkeit in der UZH.
Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2019/2020, 2021
Mit diesem Dokument legt die Universität Zürich (UZH) ihren zweiten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht vor. I... more Mit diesem Dokument legt die Universität Zürich (UZH) ihren zweiten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht vor. In den Berichtsjahren 2019 und 2020 hat die UZH entscheidende Voraussetzungen geschaffen, um in den kommenden Jahren auf allen Ebenen substanzielle Beiträge zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung zu leisten. Diese wichtigen Veränderungen in Forschung, Lehre, Betrieb und Austausch mit der Gesellschaft sind in diesem Bericht dokumentiert. Wie schon für den ersten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht wurden für die Berichterstattung international anerkannte Standards nach Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) und International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) berücksichtigt. Die Auswahl der behandelten Themen erfolgte unter anderem in Hinblick auf die Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung der Vereinten Nationen (UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs) und einer Wesentlichkeitsanalyse nach GRI-Standards, die für den ersten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht erstellt wurde. Die Berichtsinhalte wurden im engen Austausch mit über 90 Expert*innen aus den jeweils zuständigen Universitätseinheiten, in Einzelfällen auch mit externen Stakeholdern erarbeitet. Die einbezogenen Organisationseinheiten und externen Stakeholder entsprechen grösstenteils denen, die im Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2018 hinzugezogen wurden. Ohne die erneut engagierte Unterstützung dieser Personen wäre die Erstellung des vorliegenden Berichts nicht möglich gewesen.
Nachhaltigkeitsbericht 2018, 2019
Das vorliegende Dokument ist der erste Nachhaltigkeitsbericht der Universität Zürich (UZH). Ziel ... more Das vorliegende Dokument ist der erste Nachhaltigkeitsbericht der Universität Zürich (UZH). Ziel des Berichts ist es, Beiträge der UZH zu nachhaltiger Entwicklung zu identifizieren, den Status quo im Berichtsjahr 2018 darzustellen, eine Grundlage für zukünftige Massnahmen zu schaffen und eine breite Diskussion über den Beitrag der UZH zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung anzuregen. Da dies die erste Ausgabe des Nachhaltigkeitsberichts der UZH ist, werden auch grundsätzliche Vorgehensweisen der UZH im Bereich der Nachhaltigkeit erläutert, und es werden, je nach Datenverfügbarkeit, auch Aktivitäten vor dem Berichtsjahr 2018 in die Darstellungen integriert. Darüber hinaus überschneiden sich die Inhalte des Nachhaltigkeitsberichts teilweise mit anderen Formen der Berichterstattung der UZH. In zukünftigen Nachhaltigkeitsberichten (eine Veröffentlichung ist alle zwei Jahre geplant) werden Überschneidungen vermieden und durch Verweise ersetzt. Für die Entwicklung der Berichtsinhalte wurden international anerkannte Standards nach Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) und International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) berücksichtigt und Nachhaltigkeitsberichte anderer Hochschulen ausgewertet. Die Auswahl der behandelten Themen erfolgte un- ter anderem in Hinblick auf die Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung der Verein- ten Nationen (UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). Die Berichtsinhalte wurden im engen Austausch mit über 150 Expertinnen und Experten aus den jeweils zuständigen Universitätseinheiten sowie zahlreichen externen Stakeholdern erarbeitet. Ohne die engagierte Unterstützung dieser Personen wäre die Erstellung des vorliegenden Berichts nicht möglich gewesen. Eine Liste aller Beteiligten ist dem Anhang zu entnehmen.
Most telecommuting (TC) studies focus on travel impacts and do not consider changes in time spent... more Most telecommuting (TC) studies focus on travel impacts and do not consider changes in time spent on non-travel activities (e.g. 'leisure') and the energy impacts of these changes. We demonstrate a time-use approach to assess interrelations between changes in commuting time and time spent on travel and non-travel activities and associated energy impacts. Time-use data analysis shows that spending less time on commuting is associated with more time spent on 'sleep', 'leisure', 'personal, household and family care', 'private travel' and 'eating and drinking'. Substituting car commuting with 'sleep', 'eating and drinking', common 'leisure' and 'personal, household and family care' activities is likely to reduce energy requirements as these are associated with less energy requirements than car commuting. This is different for 'private travel', 'meal preparation at home', and energy-intensive or out-of-home 'leisure' activities, which are associated with relatively high energy requirements. The commute modal split is a key variable in energy impacts of TC, because transport modes differ in their energy requirements. While car commuters can realize high energy savings through TC, for people who usually bike or walk to work, direct energy savings through reduced commuting are zero. Thus, any additional energy impact due to substitute activities, increases net direct energy requirements. Future research should further investigate the relationship between TC and time spent on (non-)travel activities and the marginal energy requirements of these activities. If so, the time-use approach can become key for assessing energy impacts of TC and other applications which impact individual time allocation.
5G mobile networks are intended to meet the increasing requirements placed on mobile communicatio... more 5G mobile networks are intended to meet the increasing requirements placed on mobile communications. Producing and operating 5G infrastructure causes direct effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Meanwhile, 5G is expected to support applications that contribute to GHG abatement. We investigated (i) the GHG footprint of 5G infrastructure, and (ii) the GHG abatement potential of four 5G-supported use cases (i.e., flexible work, smart grids, automated driving and precision farming) for Switzerland in 2030. Our results show that 5G infrastructure is expected to cause 0.018 Mt CO2e/year. Per unit of data transmitted, 5G is expected to cause 85% less GHG emissions in 2030 than today's 2G/3G/4G network mix. The four 5G-supported use cases have the potential to avoid up to 2.1 Mt CO2e/year; clearly more than the predicted GHG footprint of 5G infrastructure. The use cases benefit especially from ultra-low latency, the possibility to connect many devices, high reliability, mobility, availability and security provided by 5G. To put 5G at the service of climate protection, measures should be taken in two fields. First, the GHG footprint of 5G should be kept small, by installing only as much 5G infrastructure as required, running 5G with electricity from renewable energy sources, and decommissioning older network technologies once 5G is widely available. Second, the GHG abatements enabled by 5G-supported use cases should be unleashed by creating conditions that target GHG reductions and mitigate rebound effects. The final outcome depends largely on the political will to steer the development into the direction of a net GHG reduction.
Abstract. This introductory chapter provides definitions of sustainability, sustainable developme... more Abstract. This introductory chapter provides definitions of sustainability, sustainable development, decoupling, and related terms; gives an overview of existing interdisciplinary research fields related to ICT for Sustainability, including Environmental Informatics, Computational Sustainability, Sustainable HCI, and Green ICT; introduces a conceptual framework to structure the effects of ICT on sustainability; and provides an overview of this book.
While telecommuting (TC) research heavily discusses travel impacts of home-based TC, little is kn... more While telecommuting (TC) research heavily discusses travel impacts of home-based TC, little is known about impacts of working from a neighborhood TC center on travel and non-travel activities and their energy requirements. We conduct a case study on the impacts of the work location (employer's office, TC center, home) on time use and travel using data collected in a neighborhood TC center in Stockholm. Our results show that telecommuters more frequently replaced working from the TC center for working from the more distant employer's office than for working from home. On TC center and home office days, diarists spent less time traveling, and on home office days more time on chores and leisure than on employer office days. When working from the TC center instead of the employer's office, telecommuters frequently used the same or more energy-efficient commute modes, e.g. biking instead of the car, which was feasible because the TC center is in the local neighborhood. However, when working from home, diarists mainly used the car for private travel. Thus, energy savings of TC can be increased by providing energy-efficient transport options or local access to non-work destinations to telecommuters. TC energy impacts depend also on changes to energy requirements for nontravel activities, for space heating/cooling/lighting at all work locations, and systemic TC effects (e.g. residential relocation), which can only be observed in the long term. Thus, future TC assessments should take an even broader perspective in terms of travel and non-travel activities, their energy requirements, and systemic effects.
TATuP - Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis
In partizipativen TA-Projekten treffen Teilnehmende mit unterschiedlichen normativen Orientierung... more In partizipativen TA-Projekten treffen Teilnehmende mit unterschiedlichen normativen Orientierungen aufeinander. Wir stellen einen methodischen Ansatz vor, der alle Beteiligten dabei unterstützen soll, mit dieser Wertepluralität offen und transparent umzugehen, indem die Diskussion in einem Workshop mittels eines Online-Tools zur Befragung der potenziell Teilnehmenden vorbereitet wird. Die „LOTA“ (Landscape of Opinions for Technology Assessment) genannte Methode stützt sich auf globale Ziele, die den Teilnehmenden als normativer Referenzrahmen vorgegeben werden. Diese können Ziele auswählen und priorisieren und auf diese Weise ihre normativen Orientierungen ausdrücken. Das gleichnamige Software-Tool visualisiert eine „Meinungslandschaft“ basierend auf den Daten aus der Online-Befragung.
Sustainability
We present the main messages of a European Expert Round Table (ERT) on the unintended side effect... more We present the main messages of a European Expert Round Table (ERT) on the unintended side effects (unseens) of the digital transition. Seventeen experts provided 42 propositions from ten different perspectives as input for the ERT. A full-day ERT deliberated communalities and relationships among these unseens and provided suggestions on (i) what the major unseens are; (ii) how rebound effects of digital transitioning may become the subject of overarching research;
PloS one, 2018
We present an agent-based model of wood markets and show our efforts to validate this model using... more We present an agent-based model of wood markets and show our efforts to validate this model using empirical data from different sources, including interviews, workshops, experiments, and official statistics. Own surveys closed gaps where data was not available. Our approach to model validation used a variety of techniques, including the replication of historical production amounts, prices, and survey results, as well as a historical case study of a large sawmill entering the market and becoming insolvent only a few years later. Validating the model using this case provided additional insights, showing how the model can be used to simulate scenarios of resource availability and resource allocation. We conclude that the outcome of the rigorous validation qualifies the model to simulate scenarios concerning resource availability and allocation in our study region.
2016 Electronics Goes Green 2016+ (EGG), 2016
Product lifetimes and disposal pathways are essential aspects of dynamic material flow analyses (... more Product lifetimes and disposal pathways are essential aspects of dynamic material flow analyses (MFAs), which have often been used to model stocks and flows of electronic devices and the resources they contain. Existing studies mainly focus on the use and disposal of electronic devices by private consumers. The specific handling of business devices has rarely been assessed. This article presents the results of a study conducted in Switzerland in 2015, comprising interviews with 28 companies. Devices included are desktop and laptop and computers, mobile phones, monitors, televisions, external hard disk drives and servers. Results are compared to data collected from Swiss private consumers. The service lifetime and disposal pathways are fed into a dynamic MFA model to calculate the stocks and flows of business devices. With the example of indium, neodymium and gold, the material resources contained in these stocks and flows are illustrated.
Environment international, Jan 4, 2016
The fast penetration of nanoproducts on the market under conditions of significant uncertainty of... more The fast penetration of nanoproducts on the market under conditions of significant uncertainty of their environmental properties and risks to humans creates a need for companies to assess sustainability of their products. Evaluation of the potential benefits and risks to build a coherent story for communication with clients, authorities, consumers, and other stakeholders is getting to be increasingly important, but SMEs often lack the knowledge and expertise to assess risks and communicate them appropriately. This paper introduces LICARA nanoSCAN, a modular web based tool that supports SMEs in assessing benefits and risks associated with new or existing nanoproducts. This tool is unique because it is scanning both the benefits and risks over the nanoproducts life cycle in comparison to a reference product with a similar functionality in order to enable the development of sustainable and competitive nanoproducts. SMEs can use data and expert judgment to answer mainly qualitative and ...
Sciences Northwestern Switzerland offers at the School of Management majors in Economy such as Co... more Sciences Northwestern Switzerland offers at the School of Management majors in Economy such as Controlling, Human Resource Management, Marketing, and Information and Knowledge Management. In addition, it offers both a full-time and part time course of study in Information Systems. It is well-known for its further education activities ranging from conferences, seminars, and examination preparation to full-fledged graduate studies. The institute offers graduate programs in Non-Profit Organisation, Logistics, Corporate Design Management, and Personnel Management. Solothurn University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland is active in widely varied areas of economics research. The most noteworthy topics of research are in the areas of Industry, Innovation and Strategic Management, Human Resource Management, and Information and Knowledge Management. The results of this research are presented in our publication series and research seminars. Publication Series In this series, Solothurn University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, publishes the results of this research, with the aim of ensuring that colleagues as well as the public are informed on research activities and their ensuing results. To place orders for these publications, please refer to the order form at the end of this brochure.
Proc. iEMSs, 2002
Abstract: With ongoing differentiation of society and an increasing demand to consider sustainabi... more Abstract: With ongoing differentiation of society and an increasing demand to consider sustainability principles, instruments to support the assessment, design and control of complex socio-technical systems will gain importance. In this context, computer-based numerical models may play an essential role. We present a system dynamics based simulation system for plastics waste management and discuss the practical experiences made with this system. The simulation system–called EcoSolver IP-SSK-combines the ...
All contributions except the invited papers were selected by a two-stage blind peer-review process.
Today many technologies are being used that involve information on the location of objects or per... more Today many technologies are being used that involve information on the location of objects or persons. In addition to the widely known geolocation by satellite via GPS, at least 12 more technologies are being used that make it possible to determine the location of devices, and indirectly that of their users. This may happen in real time or after a delay depending on the technology; it may happen with a degree of precision ranging from a few kilometers to a few centimeters, and either with or without the knowledge of the persons affected.
Because localization (determination of position) can be technically implemented with increasing convenience and decreasing cost, more and more localization data are being generated and stored. When the results of many localization processes are combined, tracking profiles, or even relationship profiles, can be done on persons. In addition to navigation, there are numerous other application areas of localization technologies: location-based services, micromarketing, calculation of fees and insurance premiums, surveillance of individuals (for health reasons or in law enforcement), emergency missions, documentation, and forensic evidence.
From the perspective of the person being localized, localization is often done as a side-effect of another function that the person wants to use:
• All mobile devices with an integrated GPS receiver (such as smartphones) can determine their position with a high degree of precision; many apps build upon this; the user is not always conscious whether her localization data are visible to third parties when she uses an app or service.
• Mobile phones that do not even feature a GPS receiver can also be localized by mobile providers. Just knowing in which cell the device is operating provides a rough localization. A more precise localization of mobile phones without GPS is also possible by triangulation.
• When a user is accessing information on the Internet, the server can roughly estimate the location of the user. Whenever Internet access is via a WLAN hotspot, an even more precise localization is possible.
• When buildings or fee-based zones are accessed using electronic identification (such as RFID tags) or when electronic payments are made, data are also generated that document the location and movement of persons.
• Images that show persons or vehicles may document locations. More and more digital cameras are equipped with GPS receivers and mark digital image data with geotags that specify time and location; video surveillance cameras are becoming more powerful and less conspicuous. Parallel to this development, image processing processes are being improved so as to enable authorities to mine collections of images automatically for faces or license plate numbers.
Localization technologies are becoming an “external location memory” that records for more and more of our acts when and where we performed them. In the future it will become difficult to imagine everyday mobility – both that in individual and that in public traffic – without localization systems. Likewise acting in social networks on Internet platforms will be associated increasingly with the physical location of the user. New location-based business models will result from that. Advertising focused on location, time and the individual will become normal.
Localization technologies offer many societal opportunities, e.g. for promoting public transportation (easier to find connections and to pay for them), for rescue operations, for personal security and orientation at unfamiliar locations, for meeting friends and many other purposes. As localization technologies become more readily accepted, we are becoming more dependent on them. They are becoming new critical infrastructures the malfunctioning or collapse of which can have far-reaching consequences comparable with a breakdown of the telephone network. Manipulated localization information may have even more serious consequences than a lack of information, because it can misguide vehicles, persons and freight.
The combination of two factors can make considerable societal risks develop in addition to the advantages and opportunities afforded by localization technologies. The factors are:
1. A drop in the voluntary nature of our use of localization technologies: If a person does not wish to be located even today, she has to do without a mobile phone and many Internet functions, in extreme cases even without electronic access and payment systems – thus becoming excluded from many aspects of personal and professional life.
2. The increasing amount of personal data in circulation due to the increasing generation, transmission, storage and processing of localization data: the private-sector and public offices that process such data can combine them into tracking and relationship profiles. Far-reaching profiles of persons and groups can be assembled by combining that with other data, in particular geographic data.
The combination of these two aspects – the drop in the voluntary nature and the increasing amount of data – holds a potential for societal conflict because the difficulties of the individual that exist today in getting her right to informational self-determination respected might later intensify to a critical mass. The lack of transparency in the processing steps used, which are frequently not associated with a person until after the fact, is increasing the risk of personal and data protection violations.
The results of this TA study show a need for political action in the following areas:
• For the technical surveillance of people in dependency relationships, especially employees, persons needing protection and children;
• In Child Protection Measures pertaining to the participation of adolescents in social networks with a localization function;
• In defending the informational self-determination of the individual vis-à-vis the state and private-sector enterprises; this is a matter of maintaining control over one’s own data and avoiding the thoughtless surrendering of basic rights;
• In limiting the retention of localization data, because in many cases it can be associated with persons after the fact, possibly jeopardizing their rights to privacy (“right to be forgotten”);
• As regards the permissibility of the Terms of Service (ToS) used by the providers of software packages and services with localization functions, some of which violate current law;
• Taking seriously the model function of government offices in implementing data protection principles, whenever they use localization technologies to perform their own duties more efficiently;
• To recognize the security of localization systems as a new critical infrastructure and to protect the populace against those forms of cybercrime that are facilitated by localization technologies.
The research team derives a set of general and specific recommendations from the above list.
The general recommendations aim to develop further the legal framework: There is a need to introduce more efficient ways to sanction violations in the data protection rules intended to effectively prevent the misuse of personally identifiable data (in particular, the localization data of persons). Furthermore, measures are needed to improve the enforcement of data protection principles in the international context. Localization systems are developing into critical infrastructures for the Swiss population and must therefore be protected from malfunctions, breakdown or destruction. Many people have difficulty understanding the operation of software products and services that process localization data; this inability makes a certification necessary, so that software products become more reliable and transparent. The widely discussed “right to be forgotten” for personal data is of special importance in the case of localization data; therefore a legal anchoring of this right should be investigated thor-oughly. Empirical social science research is needed so that the handling of localization technologies in everyday life and the social development dynamics of sharing relations and dependencies can be better understood. Such an understanding is the basis for effective regulation.
The special recommendations aim to establish legal guideposts for the on-going development and use of localization technologies in compliance with basic law, we next articulate special recommendations for special areas: improving the public’s understanding of the Terms of Service of social networks; directions and a clearer regulation of the permissibility of localization at one’s place of work; integration of the topic of localization in measures to promote the media literacy of adolescents; the introduction of effective ways to establish the legal age of users of Internet services with localization functions; the accession of Switzerland to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse; exercising the model function that governments have in the application of localization technologies; bringing the use of crowd sourcing (cooperation of many volunteers) in road traffic into compliance with data protection principles; a uni-form regulation of video localization; the extension of the principle of the so-called Robinson List (“don’t send me any advertising”) to digital media, especially location-based marketing.
Notes:
1. The full version of this study (250 pages) is available in German (including a summary in English and French) at http://e-collection.library.ethz.ch/view/eth:5555
2. Journalist Lucienne Rey wrote a popular short version of the study titled "Geographische Wegmarken in der Cyberwelt: Ortungstechnologien als Herausforderung einer freiheitlichen Gesellschaft". This version has been translated to English, French and Italian and is available at www.ta-swiss.ch.
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Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are contributing both to environmental problems... more Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are contributing both to environmental problems and to their solution. Will ICT producers, users and recyclers be the major polluters of tomorrow, or will 'Green IT' and a dematerialized information society save the climate? This book provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between ICT and sustainable development, culminating in 15 recommendations - to producers, users and political decision makers - which show the way to a sustainable information society.
Das vorliegende Memorandum zeigt ein Zwischenergebnis des GI-Arbeitskreises «Nachhaltige Informat... more Das vorliegende Memorandum zeigt ein Zwischenergebnis des GI-Arbeitskreises «Nachhaltige Informationsgesellschaft» (GIANI) und soll zur Diskussion anregen. Entwurf des Titelblatts: Wolf Göhring Graphische Gestaltung/Layout: Therese Bracher Diese und aktualisierte Versionen des Memorandums werden auch unter http://www.giani-memorandum.de veröffentlicht. Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Bibliothek: Die Deutsche Bibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.ddb.de abrufbar. Druck: Satz-und Druck-Center des Fraunhofer-Informationszentrums Raum und Bau IRB, Stuttgart. Fraunhofer-Informationszentrum Raum und Bau IRB Nobelstraße 12, D-70569 Stuttgart Telefon 07 11 / 970 -25 00 Telefax 07 11 / 970 -25 08 E-Mail irb@irb.fraunhofer.de www.irb.fraunhofer.de ISBN 3-8167-6446-0 Seite 5 Memorandum «Nachhaltige Informationsgesellschaft» Mit diesem Memorandum will der Arbeitskreis «Nachhaltige Informationsgesellschaft» der Gesellschaft für Informatik aufzeigen, welchen Beitrag Informations-und Kommunikationstechnologien (Information and Communication Technologies, ICT) zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung leisten können. Der immer breitere Einsatz von ICT begünstigt nicht automatisch eine nachhaltige, dauerhaft umweltgerechte Entwicklung. Vielmehr ist politischer Gestaltungswille erforderlich, wenn auf dem Weg in eine globale Informationsgesellschaft die Idee der nachhaltigen Entwicklung eine Chance bekommen soll. Damit sind zwei Themen von globaler Bedeutung angesprochen, die heute kontrovers diskutiert werden: • Nachhaltige Entwicklung (sustainable development), eine Leitidee, die mit dem «Brundtland-Report» von 1987 in die Diskussion globaler Umweltund Entwicklungsfragen eingeführt wurde und seit dem UNO-Weltgipfel von 1992 in Rio wachsenden Einfluss auf die politische Willensbildung ausübt. Der UNO-Weltgipfel 2002 in Johannesburg hat neue Meilensteine in dieser Diskussion gesetzt. • Informationsgesellschaft (information society) oder auch Wissensgesellschaft (knowledge society), eine Vision der Veränderungen, die durch den breiten Einsatz der ICT in der Wirtschaft und anderen Bereichen der Gesellschaft ermöglicht oder beschleunigt werden. Der UNO-Weltgipfel zur Informationsgesellschaft (2003 in Genf und 2005 in Tunis) zeigt das wachsende politische Interesse an diesem Thema. Auf dem Weg in eine globale Informationsgesellschaft bieten sich bedeutende, ja vielleicht einzigartige Chancen für eine Kurskorrektur in Richtung Nachhaltigkeit. Zugleich bringt die rasante Weiterentwicklung und Verbreitung von ICT aber auch neuartige Risiken für Natur, Gesellschaft und Individuum mit sich. Erstaunlich ist, dass trotz dieser Zusammenhänge die Themen Nachhaltigkeit und Informationsgesellschaft in Wissenschaft, Politik und Medien noch weitgehend getrennt behandelt werden. Allerdings nimmt die Zahl der Projekte und Publikationen rasch zu, die sich mit der Beziehung zwischen Nachhaltigkeit und Informationsgesellschaft befassen. (Ein Verzeichnis ist im Anhang zu finden.) Mit diesem Memorandum will der Arbeitskreis «Nachhaltige Informationsgesellschaft» der Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI): • die Chancen und Risiken aufzeigen, die sich auf dem Weg in eine globale Informationsgesellschaft für das Ziel einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung ergeben,
Die Informatik hat die Anwendung ihrer Methoden und Techniken in Umweltschutz, Umweltforschung un... more Die Informatik hat die Anwendung ihrer Methoden und Techniken in Umweltschutz, Umweltforschung und Umweltplanung zu einer Spezialdisziplin zusammengefaßt, die seit einigen Jahren als Umweltinformatik bezeichnet wird. Die Umweltinformatik ist bisher noch stark von einem nachsorgenden Umweltschutz geprägt, der vor allem technische Unterstützung bei der Überwachung, Analyse und Dokumentation von Umweltzuständen benötigt. Es gibt jedoch auch eine wachsende Zahl von Forschungs- und Entwicklungsarbeiten, die sich auf vorbeugende Umweltschutzmaßnahmen konzentrieren. Die verarbeiteten Daten und Informationen beziehen sich in diesem Fall seltener auf die natürliche Umwelt und häufiger auf anthropogene Systeme wie z.B. Produktionsprozesse oder Verkehrssysteme, die den Zustand der natürlichen Umwelt beeinflussen. Ziel ist dann die Abschätzung, Analyse und Reduktion der von diesen Systemen verursachten Umweltbelastungen. Wichtige Themen in diesem Bereich sind betriebliche Umweltinformationssysteme und die umweltorientierte Verkehrsmodellierung.
Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, zu untersuchen, welche Beiträge die Informatik zur Verwirklichung einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung leisten kann, und welche Prinzipien und Methoden hierfür eingesetzt werden sollten. Die Orientierung am Leitbild der nachhaltigen Entwicklung macht es erforderlich, Aspekte einzubeziehen, die über die Informatik hinausgehen.
Pervasive Computing ist eine zukünftige Anwendungsform von Informations-und Kommunikationstechnol... more Pervasive Computing ist eine zukünftige Anwendungsform von Informations-und Kommunikationstechnologien (ICT), die durch Miniaturisierung und Einbettung von Mikroelektronik in andere Objekte sowie ihre Vernetzung und Allgegenwart im Alltag gekennzeichnet ist. Anders als die meisten heutigen ICT-Produkte werden Komponenten des Pervasive Computing mit Sensoren ausgestattet sein, über die sie ihre Umgebung erfassen, ohne dass der Benutzer dies aktiv veranlasst. Eine so weitgehende Vision der Durchdringung des Alltags mit mikroelektronischen Komponenten, die immer und überall eingeschaltet und weitgehend drahtlos vernetzt sind, wirft Fragen nach möglichen unerwünschten Nebenfolgen dieser Technologie auf. Den erwarteten Vorteilen sind die teilweise ungeklärten Risiken gegenüberzustellen, die in der Verwirklichung dieser Technologievision liegen. Bei der Abwägung von Chancen und Risiken stellt sich die Grundfrage der Technikethik: "Mit welcher Technik wollen wir in welcher Welt leben?' Diese Frage kann nur im gesellschaftlichen Diskurs beantwortet werden. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist es, einen sachlichen Beitrag zu diesem Diskurs zu leisten, indem sie mögliche Chancen und Risiken des Pervasive Computing aufzeigt. Dabei liegt der Schwerpunkt auf Risiken für die menschliche Gesundheit und die Umwelt. Schon die Identifikation und Unterscheidung von Chancen und Risiken setzt indessen die Orientierung an Wertgrundlagen voraus und kann nicht innerhalb der Wissenschaft allein entschieden werden. Diese Studie orientiert sich bei Bewertungen an den Prinzipien der traditionellen Ethik (Achtung der Menschenwürde, Fürsorgeprinzip und Gerechtigkeit), ergänzt um das Vorsorgeprinzip und die Leitidee Nachhaltige Entwicklung. Der gemeinsame Kern von Vorsorge und Nachhaltigkeit ist die Erweiterung des Gerechtigkeitsprinzips auf zukünftige Generationen im Sinne einer intergenerationellen Fairness: Heutiges Handeln soll die Freiräume für zukünftiges Handeln möglichst nicht einschränken.
Vorwort Digitalisierung gilt allgemein als saubere Technologie. In Anbetracht ihrer Verbreitung i... more Vorwort Digitalisierung gilt allgemein als saubere Technologie. In Anbetracht ihrer Verbreitung ist sie das auch: nur etwa 3% des globalen Treibhausgasausstosses fällt auf sie zurück. Zusätzlich hat sie ein riesiges Potenzial, in vielen Bereichen ältere und ineffiziente Technologien und Anwendungen zu ersetzen und damit einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Erreichung unserer Klimaziele zu leisten. Gleichzeitig wächst der Fussabdruck der Digitalisierung unübersehbar. Einerseits ist das auf die wachsende Nachfrage nach digitalen Anwendungen zurückzuführen und kann als positiver Indikator für die fortschreitende Verdrängung von THG-intensiven Produkten interpretiert werden. Andererseits führt diese disruptive Technologie dazu, dass die Anwendungen günstiger, zugänglicher und praktischer werden und deshalb die Nachfrage anheizen. Es kommt zum Reboundeffekt, und die zunächst positive Ökobilanz wird dadurch aufgehoben. Über diese Wechselwirkung wissen wir noch wenig und sind kaum in der Lage zu beurteilen, ob ein spezifisches digitales Produkt oder eine digitale Dienstleistung sich positiv oder negativ auf den THG-Ausstoss auswirkt. Darüber hinaus gibt es diverse Faktoren, wie etwa der Strommix oder kulturell bedingte Unterschiede im Verhalten, die die Bilanz wesentlich beeinflussen können. Im Sinne der Eigenverantwortung betrachten Swico und Swisscleantech es als Gebot der Stunde, diesen Fragen auf den Grund zu gehen und auf ein wissenschaftliches Fundament zu stellen. Zum ersten Mal werden die Klimaeffekte einzelner digitaler Produkte end-to-end, d.h. von der Bereitstellung bis zur Anwendung, untersucht und gegenübergestellt. Insgesamt wurden elf Produkte oder Dienstleistungen aus fünf verschiedenen Sektoren durchleuchtet und mit möglichen Handlungsoptionen für eine Senkung des THG-Ausstosses versehen. Die vorliegende Metastudie liefert wertvolle Erkenntnisse in Bezug auf den Fussabdruck und soll als Grundlage für weitere-länder-oder produktspezifische-Vertiefungen dienen, um insbesondere konkrete Massnahmen und Empfehlungen für die Industrie und Konsumentinnen und Konsumenten zu erarbeiten. Wir, Swico und Swisscleantech, sehen darin eine wichtige Sensibilisierung der Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft und möchten damit einen branchenspezifischen Anreiz zur Evaluierung und Senkung des eigenen Fussabdrucks setzen.
He studies transportation in the context of rapid technological change, climate crisis and social... more He studies transportation in the context of rapid technological change, climate crisis and social inequality.
"Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) not only constitute an industry in their own r... more "Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) not only constitute an industry in their own right but they also pervade all sectors of the economy, where they act as integrating and enabling technologies. ICTs have a profound impact on society, and their production and use have important consequences for
development in economic, social and environmental areas. The extent to which ICTs also affect progress towards environmental sustainability in an economy is an issue that is still under debate. There is, however, increasing evidence that significant opportunities and threats are involved. These deserve more research and more attention in energy, climate change and technology policies.
The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (part of the Joint Research Centre - European Commission) has commissioned a study entitled ‘The Future Impact of ICTs on Environmental Sustainability’, which aims to explore (qualitatively) and to assess (quantitatively) the way that ICTs will influence environmental sustainability between now and 2020. This study is the first quantitative projection to be carried out on how ICTs could affect the environment in the European Union. In order to estimate the effects of ICTs on a set of five environmental indicators, the project team adopted an innovative methodology combining qualitative scenario-building and quantitative modelling.
The general conclusion was that ICTs can modify the value of these five indicators. ICTs could improve the situation, reinforcing positive effects in the environment, or they could worsen the situation. This suggests that environmental policies have to be designed to ensure that ICT applications make a
beneficial contribution to environmental outcomes, and, at the same time, suppress rebound effects. There are significant opportunities for improving environmental sustainability through ICTs, which can rationalise energy management in housing (or facilities), make passenger and freight transport more efficient, and enable a product-to-service shift across the economy."
Herausgegeben vom Zentrum für Technologiefolgen-Abschätzung (TA-SWISS), Bern (TA 46/2003), Jan 1, 2003
