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An Approach to Assess Indirect Environmental Effects of Digitalization Based on a Time-Use Perspective

In: Advances and New Trends in Environmental Informatics

Author

Listed:
  • Jan C. T. Bieser

    (University of Zurich)

  • Lorenz M. Hilty

    (University of Zurich
    Empa Materials Science and Technology)

Abstract

The digital transformation has direct and indirect effects on the environment. Direct effects are caused by the production, use and disposal of information and communication technology (ICT) hardware. Indirect effects include the changes to patterns of production and consumption enabled by ICT in other domains. Studies of indirect environmental effects of ICT often focus on individual applications domains and their use cases, which implies that these studies cannot capture systemic effects of ICT adoption. We argue that interaction among ICT use cases is crucial to explain systemic environmental effects of ICT. In order to capture these interactions, we suggest focusing on ICT impacts on individual lifestyles, in particular time use, because (i) time is a limited resource for everyone, a fact which makes time budget constraints a central link among different activities and (ii) many ICT use cases relax time and space constraints of individuals, thus changing time allocation. With this approach, we take into account that individual lifestyles are a major determinant of the overall environmental impact and that ICT diffusion changes individual time-use patterns and therefore lifestyles. Based on these considerations, we propose a conceptual framework that describes the causal mechanisms between ICT use, time-use patterns and environmental impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan C. T. Bieser & Lorenz M. Hilty, 2018. "An Approach to Assess Indirect Environmental Effects of Digitalization Based on a Time-Use Perspective," Progress in IS, in: Hans-Joachim Bungartz & Dieter Kranzlmüller & Volker Weinberg & Jens Weismüller & Volker Wohlgemuth (ed.), Advances and New Trends in Environmental Informatics, pages 67-78, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:prochp:978-3-319-99654-7_5
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-99654-7_5
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Maria J. Pouri & Lorenz M. Hilty, 2018. "Conceptualizing the Digital Sharing Economy in the Context of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Jan C. T. Bieser & Lorenz M. Hilty, 2018. "Assessing Indirect Environmental Effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT): A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-19, July.
    3. Stanisław Łobejko & Krzysztof Bartczak, 2021. "The Role of Digital Technology Platforms in the Context of Changes in Consumption and Production Patterns," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Silvia Sumedrea & Cătălin Ioan Maican & Ioana Bianca Chițu & Eliza Nichifor & Alina Simona Tecău & Radu Constantin Lixăndroiu & Gabriel Brătucu, 2022. "Sustainable Digital Communication in Higher Education—A Checklist for Page Loading Speed Optimisation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Christina J. Herden & Ervin Alliu & André Cakici & Thibaut Cormier & Catherine Deguelle & Sahil Gambhir & Caleb Griffiths & Shrishti Gupta & Sahil R. Kamani & Yonca-Selda Kiratli & Máté Kispataki & Gr, 2021. "“Corporate Digital Responsibility”," NachhaltigkeitsManagementForum | Sustainability Management Forum, Springer, vol. 29(1), pages 13-29, March.
    6. Lioutas, Evagelos D. & Charatsari, Chrysanthi & De Rosa, Marcello, 2021. "Digitalization of agriculture: A way to solve the food problem or a trolley dilemma?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Esther Thiébaud & Lorenz M. Hilty & Mathias Schluep & Heinz W. Böni & Martin Faulstich, 2018. "Where Do Our Resources Go? Indium, Neodymium, and Gold Flows Connected to the Use of Electronic Equipment in Switzerland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, July.
    8. Marlen Gabriele Arnold & Alina Vogel & Martin Ulber, 2021. "Digitalizing Higher Education in Light of Sustainability and Rebound Effects—Surveys in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-29, November.
    9. Ramzan, Muhammad & Abbasi, Kashif Raza & Salman, Asma & Dagar, Vishal & Alvarado, Rafael & Kagzi, Muneza, 2023. "Towards the dream of go green: An empirical importance of green innovation and financial depth for environmental neutrality in world's top 10 greenest economies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    10. Ivan A. Kapitonov & Tatiana G. Filosofova & Vitaly G. Korolev, 2019. "Development of Digital Economy in the Energy Industry-specific Modernization," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 9(4), pages 273-282.

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