ICT Applications in the Research for Environmental Sustainability

The research investigates the role of ICT in environmental sustainability research across four sectors, identifying five common macro-areas of application: observation and monitoring, modelling and simulation, socio-economic analysis, policy analysis and planning, and capacity building and cooperation. The study finds that 'information systems and software' and 'communication technology, networks, distributed systems' are the most used ICT categories across most sectors, though 'electronics and microsystems' predominate in climate change research due to observation and monitoring needs. Respondents consistently ranked the scientific relevance of ICT as the highest priority, followed by political and then economic relevance. The analysis suggests that future ICT requirements are driven by current tool usage and the desire to improve scientific exchange and policy interfaces, particularly for e-governance and public awareness.

• Environmental research using ICT is organized into five common macro-areas: observation and monitoring, modelling and simulation, socio-economic analysis, policy analysis and planning, and capacity building and cooperation.
• Across the studied sectors, 'information systems and software' and 'communication technology, networks, distributed systems' are the most frequently used ICT tool categories, with the exception of the climate change sector, where 'electronics and microsystems' are most common.
• Researchers perceive the scientific relevance of ICT tools as the highest priority, followed by political relevance and then economic relevance.
• The climate change sector exhibits a more developed and balanced use of ICT tools across its research areas compared to the energy efficiency and natural resources sectors, partly due to significant funding and efforts to increase public awareness.
• Future ICT requirements are primarily driven by the specific tools currently in use and the perceived importance of scientific and political contexts, while economic factors like cost reduction are less influential.
• ICT is viewed as a critical tool for bridging the communication gap between scientists and stakeholders, specifically through e-governance, increasing public awareness, and creating interfaces with policy-makers.

APA

Chiabai, A., Rübbelke, D., & Maurer, L. (2010). ICT Applications in the Research for Environmental Sustainability. Basque Centre for Climate Change. https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201011081048371149393491.pdf

Chicago

Chiabai, Aline, Dirk Rübbelke, and Lisa Maurer. ICT Applications in the Research for Environmental Sustainability. Basque Centre for Climate Change, 2010. https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201011081048371149393491.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Chiabai |first1=Aline |last2=Rübbelke |first2=Dirk |last3=Maurer |first3=Lisa |title=ICT Applications in the Research for Environmental Sustainability |publisher=Basque Centre for Climate Change |date=November 2010 |url=https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201011081048371149393491.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chiabai2010ict, author = {Chiabai, Aline and Rübbelke, Dirk and Maurer, Lisa}, title = {{ICT Applications in the Research for Environmental Sustainability}}, institution = {Basque Centre for Climate Change}, year = {2010}, month = nov, url = {https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201011081048371149393491.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }