Systems thinking and efficiency under emissions constraints: Addressing rebound effects in digital innovation and...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Digital Sustainability
• Innovation Studies

Background:

• Digital technology is often seen as key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the green transition.
• However, potential rebound effects of digital innovations can negate or even increase emissions.
• Current approaches often overlook these rebound effects in digital sustainability strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To expose challenges in addressing rebound effects within digital innovation and policy.
• To explore potential pathways for incorporating rebound effects into digital sustainability.
• To advocate for a shift towards systems thinking in managing digital environmental impacts.

Main Methods:

• A transdisciplinary workshop involving 19 experts from diverse fields.
• Application of a responsible innovation framework.
• Analysis of challenges in digital innovation processes and policy development.

Main Results:

• Significant challenges exist in integrating rebound effect considerations into digital innovation.
• Policy and innovation processes often fail to adequately account for rebound effects.
• A responsible innovation approach can identify ways to address these overlooked impacts.

Conclusions:

• Addressing rebound effects in digital technology requires moving beyond an efficiency-centric view.
• A 'systems thinking' model is crucial for understanding digital environmental impacts holistically.
• Realizing environmental savings from digital technology necessitates emission constraints alongside efficiency.