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Is the digital age a threat to the environment?

 


Technology and innovation have revolutionized education, science, medicine, culture and social interaction, undoubtedly improving our lives. However, this progress comes with significant environmental challenges that require our attention. Striking a balance between digital innovation and environmental protection has become a pressing challenge.

The Israeli 5G debate is a case in point. The High Court recently considered the government's plans to roll out 5G internet technology nationwide. The petitioners argued that the government's preliminary assessment was insufficient and warned about potential radiation and environmental damage. The Supreme Court rejected the petition, but Judge Uzi Fogelman stressed the need for continued research into the environmental impact of advances in digital technology.

Yet digital technology offers significant environmental benefits: virtual meetings reduce traffic-related pollution. Moreover, green tech innovations offer innovative solutions to environmental problems, from climate change to species extinction. Notably, Israeli startup Eco Wave Power converts waves into energy, and Home Biogas converts compost into biogas for cooking and as fertilizer for agriculture. Finally, digitalization reduces the need for paper, conserving natural resources and saving trees.

Without fighting a losing battle with digital innovation about hidden environmental costs, slowly but surely, space is emerging to ask the difficult but important question: how can we ensure that digitalization and digital innovation as a whole benefits humanity and the environment in which we live?

The environmental impact of digitalization has been a key topic at the 2023 Climate Change Summit (COP28), attracting global attention. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development reported that up to 12% of the world's energy is used for online traffic, and 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste are generated worldwide. [discarded electrical or electronic equipment] It is generated annually.

The European Commission has committed to tackling the issue by raising awareness and reducing data footprints as part of its broader climate strategy. The tech industry is also starting to take responsibility in this regard, with Indian start-up Karo Sambhav aiming to tackle e-waste in India through a collaborative multi-stakeholder approach and German company Vodafone partnering with Dutch start-up Closing the Loop to reconstitute used electronics and scale up recycling efforts.

Health is a human right

The human right to health is recognised as encompassing a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. This right is essential for the enjoyment of other human rights such as life, health, food and water. Recent decisions, such as the European Court of Human Rights ruling holding the Swiss Confederation accountable for inadequate climate change measures, highlight the increasing legal recognition of this right.

As we continue to benefit from advances in digital technology, it is crucial that we consider their environmental impact. Continuing research into the environmental impacts of digitalization, including energy consumption, radiation, pollution and e-waste, must be a priority.

To balance innovation and environmental protection, policymakers and technology leaders must ensure that environmental considerations are embedded into every stage of technology development.

In conclusion, transparency is key to fostering public trust in new technologies.

Governments and technology companies should publish environmental impact assessments and mitigation strategies. In particular, the integration of new technological measures, whether it be the expansion of 5G infrastructure or the increased use of devices that contribute to the 54 million tonnes of e-waste per year, should be assessed with environmental considerations in mind, and these assessments should be shared openly.

In doing so, decision-makers and industry leaders can demonstrate their commitment to balancing progress with the right to a healthy environment.

As we navigate the digital age, let's ensure our innovations serve humanity and our home planet.

Dr. Tal Mimran is with the Center for Cybersecurity Studies at the Faculty of Law of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Attorney Eden Farber is a humanitarian law specialist at the Tacris Israel Institute for Policy Research.

Sources

1/ https://Google.com/

2/ https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-809168

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