The Information Society and Sustainable Development

This 2003 research paper examines the linkages between the information society and sustainable development, arguing that policy coherence is needed between these two often-isolated fields. It identifies six analytical frameworks: environmental information systems (EIS), eco-efficiency and innovation, negative environmental impacts of ICT, modifying consumer demand, public participation, and poverty reduction. While highlighting benefits like dematerialization, transport efficiency, and poverty mapping, the paper warns of the 'rebound effect' and toxic waste from ICT products.

• There is a significant lack of policy coherence and interaction between the communities managing the information society and those managing sustainable development. IS specialists typically come from telecommunications and economic development, while SD is often relegated to environment ministries, leading to stereotypes where SD is seen as grassroots/environmental and IS as relevant only to urban elites.
• Environmental Information Systems (EIS) are used to improve the quality and accountability of decision-making by using harmonized environmental data. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are a key EIS technology used for environmental resource analysis, land-use planning, and habitat studies, with efforts to transfer this technology to the Global South.
• Eco-efficiency, defined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development as delivering competitively priced goods and services while reducing ecological impacts and resource intensity, can be achieved through optimized processes, waste recycling, eco-innovation, new services (leasing), and virtual organizations.
• The information society offers several potential environmental benefits through dematerialization and efficiency gains. These include reducing physical media (paper, CDs) to lower CO2 emissions, substituting physical travel with telework and video-conferencing, and improving industrial production planning to reduce inventory and waste.
• ICT tools can be applied to poverty reduction through 'poverty mapping,' which uses spatial representation of human well-being indicators to target resources. Case studies show this has been used to distribute capital spending in Nicaragua, restructure investment in Guatemala, allocate food aid in Cambodia, and redistribute tax revenues in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
• The information society presents negative environmental risks, including the release of toxins during the lifecycle of ICT products (from material acquisition to disposal) and the 'rebound effect,' where eco-efficiency gains lower prices and subsequently increase overall consumption.
• National development plans often treat sustainable development and technological progress as separate silos. For example, China's development plan mentions protecting forests in the Yangtze and Yellow River regions and advancing information technology in separate sections, failing to link ICT tools like GIS to deforestation goals.

APA

Willard, T., & Halder, M. (2003). The Information Society and Sustainable Development. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_sd_exploring_linkages.pdf

Chicago

Willard, Terri, and Michael Halder. The Information Society and Sustainable Development. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2003. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_sd_exploring_linkages.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Willard |first1=Terri |last2=Halder |first2=Michael |title=The Information Society and Sustainable Development |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2003 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_sd_exploring_linkages.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{willard2003information, author = {Willard, Terri and Halder, Michael}, title = {{The Information Society and Sustainable Development}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2003}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_sd_exploring_linkages.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }