Until the early 2000s, the environmental impact of digital technology was not or very little taken into consideration. The first targets were the large computer processing centers – the data centers – then the computer parks, then the smartphones spread by the tens of millions. In the 1970s, two currents opposed each other: techno-pessimists and techno-optimists. This confrontation between ecology and economy has taken other forms. Because, thanks to scientific advances and certain technological breakthroughs, “digital” creating jobs has imposed itself everywhere, including to contribute to the decarbonization of economic sectors. Yet, rightly, the debate about growth remains. But who would advocate going back and abandoning technical achievements?
The principle of sobriety
The climate emergency has led to the principle of digital sobriety, now enshrined in France in the law (of 15/11/2021). Thus, every consumer learns that it is necessary, not only to limit their uses in order to reduce CO2 emissions, but to avoid buying new products too frequently; because over the entire life cycle, it is the manufacturing phase that generates the most greenhouse gases and requires materials that are rare or expensive to extract properly (lithium, nickel, cobalt, etc.). Hence, the new consumption models: renting, sharing services rather than buying new equipment: computers, computer servers (shared on the ‘cloud’), leased electric vehicles… It is up to the suppliers to maintain them, renew or recondition them, until they are recycled at the end of their life.
Fossil fuels, even still available, are prohibited. And since the planet’s resources are not unlimited, there is no guarantee that technological advances, including in the food industry, will be sufficient to meet the needs of 10 billion people.
At the same time, safeguarding life and biodiversity has become critical due to the destruction of ecosystems, especially forests, despite numerous regulatory provisions.
Very short deadlines
The salvation of the world through technology is sometimes a myth. The deadlines for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (-55% in 2030, for the European Union) are approaching very quickly. What to do in seven years, when the commitments made by many member countries, including France, are not kept?
The fact is there: if digital is often singled out for its overconsumption and waste, it is part of the solution. The implementation of renewable energies (wind, photovoltaic, etc.) requires a lot of electronics – sensors, processors, software, etc. – all of which can be managed from a smartphone. Similarly, to monitor the environmental impact of an industry or a system, it is necessary to use measurement tools, dashboards, etc. And if some readings are initially approximate, they improve and gain in relevance.
Limits in biodiversity and nuclear
Comparatively, monitoring biodiversity is much more complex. Because the modeling of life is almost impossible. Some specialists put their hopes in quantum systems… When?
Technology and science are also showing their limits when it comes to nuclear energy. Germany has just confirmed that it is giving it up, while France is persevering. The EPR sector only really got off the ground in China and Finland. In France, it is down and the costs have exploded, pending the replacement of 14 EPR2 reactors in 10 to 20 years.
Another promise, nuclear fusion technology (and no longer fission): research is progressing but slowly: the start of ITER in Cadarache, financed by 35 countries, has been postponed from 2025 to 2030.
Meanwhile, other alternatives are emerging more quickly around greener, more decentralized energies – including hydrogen.
To move forward, it is therefore necessary to continue to collect “ecological” data, to create indicators and to assess the impact of uses. Should everything be digitized? Many solutions already exist, taking advantage of existing infrastructures. And since it is necessary to do more with less, by developing new activities in short circuit and in circular economy, sobriety and economies of scale are essential. It is also a question of ethics and transparency – a consensual and pragmatic approach taking into account integration, equal opportunities, talent development, redistribution of wealth, etc. Vast program, finally credible, which in the company is called CSR… -service with which the Management of the information systems and the trades will have to exchange better.
Pierre MANGIN
2023-05-02 04:18:12
#Sustainable #development #biodiversity #expect #science #technology #Normandy #Gazette
