Limitations and Potential of Information and Communication Technologies for Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

ICT-ENSURE, a seventh framework programme support action, analyzed the importance and potential of information and communication technologies in the area of environmental sustainability and to work towards a European Research Area in the field of “ICT for Environmental Sustainability”. In order to achieve this, efforts were taken to involve a larger expert community in the process through the organization of workshops, and through questionnaires and surveys to involve a wide range of expert opinions in a number selected environmental fields (e.g. climate change, natural resources, biodiversity, energy, risk management …). Through this wide scope of selected research fields it became clear, that while some requirements were specific for the different fields and also for different actor groups, some general trends were clear and limitations across the fields largely similar. The highest potential was generally seen in information systems and knowledge management systems, while the main challenges and user requirements were seen in areas of data and access to data, integration and information sharing, sensor technologies and mobile tools, tools for participation, communication and education. Based on the identifies user requirements a structure was developed, based on the DPSIR framework, in which ICT was seen as a facilitator of the process dimensions, while relevant research questions, involved actor groups and objectives were developed to provide a framework for future discussions towards a common research agenda.