Digital technologies are both part of the environmental problem and solution

Les technologies du numérique font à la fois partie du problème et de la solution en matière environnementale

Patrice Geoffron
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Patrice Geoffron: LEDa - Laboratoire d'Economie de Dauphine - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: The debate on the environmental impact of digital technology is complex and cannot be approached simply by observing the increase in its weight in CO2 emissions or electricity consumption. Recent work has made it possible to improve the understanding of induced effects, in particular by establishing the extent to which the uses of digital technology influence the emissions trajectory of States or act on the co-benefits of climate action (such as air quality). Furthermore, these analyses must be placed in the context of the health crisis (and the development of ‘remote' socio-economic activities), as well as the energy crisis (which involves optimising systems that are becoming increasingly complex due to the accelerated development of renewables, efficiency efforts, etc.). This work leads to a contrasting assessment of the environmental impact of digital technology (which, however, does not invalidate the need for sobriety efforts).

Date: 2023
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Published in Annales des mines - Série Responsabilité et environnement, 2023, 2023/2 (110), pp.37-40. ⟨10.3917/re1.110.0037⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04244730

DOI: 10.3917/re1.110.0037

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