Global Information Society Watch

The report examines the environmental impact of the ICT sector, specifically regarding energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and the global e-waste trade. It contrasts these negative effects with the potential for ICTs to drive economic growth and support a 'green economy' through improved resource efficiency, dematerialisation, and systemic social transformation. The text highlights the disproportionate burden of e-waste on developing nations and identifies critical policy challenges, such as rebound effects and unintended consequences of digital openness.

• The export of e-waste often bypasses legal frameworks; for example, despite bans in Nigeria since 1988 and China since 2000, imports continue due to corruption and lack of resources. In Lagos, up to 75% of e-waste shipping containers end up as garbage in landfills or roadsides.
• ICTs act as a significant driver of economic growth, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where a ten percentage point increase in connectivity correlates with a one percentage point increase in economic growth.
• ICTs can support a green economy through three primary mechanisms: reducing the direct environmental impact of their own production and disposal, increasing efficiency and dematerialisation across the broader economy, and driving systemic changes in human behaviour and governance.

APA

Maclean, D., Akoh, B., & Egede-Nissen, B. (n.d.). Global Information Society Watch. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/icts_sustainability_green_eco.pdf

Chicago

Maclean, Don, Ben Akoh, and Bjornar Egede-Nissen. Global Information Society Watch. International Institute for Sustainable Development, n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/icts_sustainability_green_eco.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Maclean |first1=Don |last2=Akoh |first2=Ben |last3=Egede-Nissen |first3=Bjornar |title=Global Information Society Watch |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/icts_sustainability_green_eco.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{macleanndglobal, author = {Maclean, Don and Akoh, Ben and Egede-Nissen, Bjornar}, title = {{Global Information Society Watch}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/icts_sustainability_green_eco.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }