Meta study commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research shows: Research on sustainable digitalization still incomplete in many areas.
A comprehensive analysis of around 200 studies by the Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) and Technopolis Deutschland on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) sheds light on the environmental impact of digitalization. While digital innovations in the building and energy sector show positive effects, many areas remain unclear.
The study emphasizes the possibility of digitalization to reduce energy consumption in buildings and transport. Intelligent control systems could lower electricity and heating requirements and reduce emissions. However, according to economist Christian Lautermann from the IÖW, there is a need to examine the ecological footprint of digital technologies more closely in order to avoid undesirable side effects.
In the transport sector in particular, research should expand its focus on alternative forms of mobility such as car sharing and local public transport. Although optimized routes and autonomous vehicles could reduce energy consumption, the overall effect would depend on whether they reduce the number of vehicles and kilometers driven.
The study also highlights the resource consumption of digitalization, which can account for up to four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. According to Jan Stede from Technopolis Germany, a comprehensive assessment of the environmental impact requires consideration of rebound effects and the quantification of further direct and indirect consequences.
Accessibility
Language