The Digital Unknown: Assessing the Impact of ICTs on Human Environment and Health Lorenz Erdmann Institute for Futures Studies and Technology Assessment

A weightless and frictionless economy?

What do we know now? ICT waste: growth, „Exporting harm“ ICT electricity: a few %s, growth Absolute growth of transport, energy, GHG, MSW ICT impact: –20 to + 30 % „E-Smog“: proof of biological, but not of adverse effects Digital opportunities: e.g. home care Stress: from ICT at work to pervasive computing New ethical questions: e.g. implantates EnvironmentHealth

Need for new policy paradigms ICT Efficiency Dematerialises the Economy Framework Conditions Decisive Reactive and Regional Policy Participatory Technology Development Technology Driven Development Proactive and Global Policy Few incentives Rebound- Effects Pervasive Computing Acceptance Problems Innovation Dynamics Prisoners Dilemma

Conclusion 1.MEAs are crucial to take advantage of the dematerialisation potential of ICTs 2.A global Roadmap for Sustainable ICTs should be developed using existing networks as nuclei 3.New tasks for the EU and the UN include participatory technology assessment and transfer of well adapted ICTs for developing countries

Thank you! Lorenz Erdmann