Projecting the Evolution of the Internet, its Technologies, Communities and Management

This report details a March 2009 pilot workshop in Vancouver, British Columbia, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and supported by Industry Canada. The session engaged 32 diverse Canadian stakeholders to explore the future of the Internet and its implications for sustainability, social cohesion, and governance. The workshop used four scenarios—Government-regulated, Unregulated market, VIPnet, and Internet commons—to identify critical uncertainties and formulate policy recommendations for the Canadian government.

• Participants recommended that Canada implement a policy of universal broadband access and provide public support for Internet infrastructure, treating the physical layer of networks as a public utility similar to roads and bridges. They suggested a goal of universal "ADSL-like" access by 2020 and proposed the "functional separation" of services from networks to increase competition.
• The workshop highlighted the potential for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to be integrated into Canada's national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategy. This is supported by a Telecommunication Technology Committee (TTC) study indicating that Japan could reach 90 percent of its Kyoto target through ICT applications, specifically via dematerialization and the use of e-products.
• There is a perceived need for a unified ICT policy function within the Government of Canada to replace the current fragmented approach. IISD suggests a "Canadian Internet Model" that focuses on the "triple bottom line"—social, environmental, and economic benefits—rather than just infrastructure and technology development.

APA

Vetter, T., MacLean, D., & Creech, H. (2009). Projecting the Evolution of the Internet, its Technologies, Communities and Management. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/projecting_internet_evolution.pdf

Chicago

Vetter, Tony, Don MacLean, and Heather Creech. Projecting the Evolution of the Internet, its Technologies, Communities and Management. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2009. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/projecting_internet_evolution.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Vetter |first1=Tony |last2=MacLean |first2=Don |last3=Creech |first3=Heather |title=Projecting the Evolution of the Internet, its Technologies, Communities and Management |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2009 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/projecting_internet_evolution.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vetter2009projecting, author = {Vetter, Tony and MacLean, Don and Creech, Heather}, title = {{Projecting the Evolution of the Internet, its Technologies, Communities and Management}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2009}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/projecting_internet_evolution.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }