Among key contributions to the Recommendation was the stated recognition that digital technologies and their underlying infrastructure, particularly the increasing generation and use of data, can negatively affect the environment.
These effects include greenhouse gas emissions, rising energy demand, raw material extraction, land and water use, pollution, biodiversity disruption, electronic waste, and rebound effects leading to increased resource use.
The work of Loughborough Business School academics played a vital role in shaping the OECD Recommendation, with Professor Ian Hodgkinson and Professor Tom Jackson contributing their insights as OECD.AI ‘Compute and the Environment’ Experts.
The professors joined an informal drafting group composed of specialists from 16 countries and the Internet Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC), alongside two fellow OECD Experts. The Recommendation’s development was supported by this group and entailed numerous consultations across the Secretariats of the OECD and International Energy Agency (IEA), discussions with OECD experts, and input from relevant committees across the organisation.
Professor Jackson said: “We’re grateful to the OECD for inviting us to contribute to this landmark Recommendation. Our work on Digital Decarbonisation has put a spotlight on the escalating challenges of digital infrastructure energy consumption and the burden of dark data, and it’s a huge step forward to see these concerns taken seriously at the highest levels of policymaking.”
Professor Hodgkinson added: “The adoption of this Recommendation shows the significance of global sustainable practices in digital technology development and implementation. As the leading institution for digital decarbonisation, we are pioneering new insights to enhance the contribution of digital technologies to environmental sustainability while mitigating their environmental footprint.”
For further details on the Recommendation visit the OECD webpage.