Policy Challenges in Linking ICTs and Sustainable Development Don MacLean Associate, International Institute for Sustainable Development ITAC Environment and ICT Forum Gatineau, November 26, 2008

2 Outline What is sustainable development? How does it link to ICTs? –Current linkages –Emerging linkages What are the policy challenges? –Short- to medium-term –Longer-term

3 Sustainable Development Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs Key concepts –We only have one world –Innovations in technology and socio-economic organization can improve the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs –SD has economic, social, and environmental pillars New approaches are needed to turn governance silos into governance networks

Eco-logical governance = networked governance

5 Linkages between ICTs and SD Established links –Economic pillar –Social pillar –Governance pillar  E-economy  E-health, e-education  E-government

6 Linkages between ICTs and SD Established links –Economic pillar –Social pillar –Governance pillar Environmental pillar? –More of the same? –A game changer?  E-economy  E-health, e-education  E-government  Both!  Short- to medium-term vs. long-term policy challenges

7 How are we doing? Source: WWF Living Planet Report 2008

8 What’s the problem? Source: WWF Living Planet Report 2008

9 Where are we headed? Source: WWF Living Planet Report 2008

10 How can ICTs help achieve environmentally sustainable development? Source: WWF Living Planet Report 2008

11 ICTs and SD – emerging policy challenges First order/direct ICT effects –Greening ICT –R&D, standardization, good practices, user awareness –ITU Focus Group

12 ICTs and SD – emerging policy challenges First order/direct ICT effects –Greening ICT –R&D, standardization, good practices, user awareness –ITU Focus Group Second order/indirect ICT effects –Promoting innovation, enabling dematerialization, managing virtualization, controlling rebound effects –Public and private sector engagement, incentives and regulation –OECD Internet economy work program

13 ICTs and SD – emerging policy challenges First order/direct ICT effects –Greening ICT –R&D, standardization, good practices, user awareness –ITU Focus Group Second order/indirect ICT effects –Promoting innovation, enabling dematerialization, managing virtualization, controlling rebound effects –Public and private sector engagement, incentives and regulation –OECD Internet economy work program Third order/systemic ICT effects –Governing economic and social transformation within environmental limitations –Evolving values, goals, principles, processes –IISD ICT and sustainable development initiative

14 What else can go wrong? Already happening –Persisting poverty –Terrorism –Fights for resources Current worries –Economic collapse –Pandemics –Social breakdown Future possibilities –Nuclear conflict –Asteroid collision –Unknown unknowns These forces interact with and exacerbate environmental challenges What kind of new governance arrangements are needed to manage them? What is the role of ICTs in relation to these risks?

15 Shell global scenarios to 2025

16 What do scenarios suggest? Current market-driven and government-led governance models are unlikely to achieve long-term SD Going forward, open models are likely to yield better results than closed models Key handshakes between ICTs and SD: –Networked governance arrangements –Open governance and network architectures –Global governance and network connectivity

↑SD opportunity :↓SD risk = ƒ(NG, OA, GC)

18 For further information on IISD ICT & SD activities, contact Heather Creech, Director Global Connectivity Program Tony Vetter, Project Officer, Global Connectivity Program