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ICT applications in the research into environmental sustainability: a user preferences approach

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  • Aline Chiabai
  • Dirk Rübbelke
  • Lisa Maurer

Abstract

Whether information and communication technology (ICT) constitutes a threat or a cure to environment’s deterioration is controversially discussed. Empirical evidence on the impacts of ICT is rare, so that generalizable lessons can hardly be drawn. This study provides empirical results on the role of ICT in research for environmental sustainability, but instead of ascertaining the impact of ICT on environmental protection, we conduct an analysis of the use of ICT in sustainability research. We assess the preferences of experts in different thematic sustainability fields for applying ICT tools, and we investigate ways to improve the application of these tools in order to augment their returns with respect to environmental protection research. This analysis is based on a set of surveys that were administered to international experts to evaluate the importance of ICT in environmental sustainability research and the research demands in key environmental sectors, such as climate change, natural resources, energy and biodiversity. The methodological framework is built on the analysis of users’ preferences for future developments in ICT tools using stated preferences techniques. Overall results suggest that ICT tools need to be developed in specific contexts, taking into account users’ needs and expectations. Our analysis shows that the use of ICT in environmental research is of great importance in the scientific community, but it can also play a crucial role in the policy context. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Aline Chiabai & Dirk Rübbelke & Lisa Maurer, 2013. "ICT applications in the research into environmental sustainability: a user preferences approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 81-100, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:15:y:2013:i:1:p:81-100
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-012-9376-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhaojun Yang & Jun Sun & Yali Zhang & Ying Wang, 2020. "Synergy between green supply chain management and green information systems on corporate sustainability: an informal alignment perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 1165-1186, February.
    2. Shunbin Zhong & Huafu Shen & Ziheng Niu & Yang Yu & Lin Pan & Yaojun Fan & Atif Jahanger, 2022. "Moving towards Environmental Sustainability: Can Digital Economy Reduce Environmental Degradation in China?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-23, November.
    3. Jiaping Zhang & Xiaomei Gong & Zhongkun Zhu & Zhenyu Zhang, 2023. "Trust cost of environmental risk to government: the impact of Internet use," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 5363-5392, June.
    4. Emilia Madudova & Tatiana Čorejova & Marek Valica, 2018. "Economic Sustainability in a Wider Context: Case Study of Considerable ICT Sector Sub-Divisions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-16, July.
    5. Manoj Kumar Dash & Chetanya Singh & Gayatri Panda & Diksha Sharma, 2023. "ICT for sustainability and socio-economic development in fishery: a bibliometric analysis and future research agenda," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 2201-2233, March.

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