Watch It! Thinking Digitalization and Sustainability Together
摘要
The chapter “Watch It! Thinking Digitalization and Sustainability Together” examines the various facets of the relationship between digitalization and sustainability. The first subchapter discusses how digitalization can contribute to benefiting people and society. It looks at various aspects such as online convenience, shaping the common good, and the use of digitalization for sustainable development. The second subchapter examines the “undesirable side effects” of digitalization. Various problems and challenges are highlighted, including the digital divide and the risk of “digital exclusion,” unequal access to digital technology, the risk of centralization, digital injustice, manipulation and surveillance, misuse of customer data, pressure on community and well-being, and the question of technology’s contribution to sustainability. Negative effects such as increased greenhouse gas emissions and electronic waste in the context of circular economy and Consumption 4.0 are also discussed. Overall, the chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the link between digitalization and sustainability, both in terms of its positive potential and its potential negative impacts and challenges.