By Rémi Paccou, Director of Sustainability Research, Schneider Electric™ Sustainability Research Institute
The discussion surrounding the role of the digital ecosystem in facilitating climate change mitigation while ensuring human prosperity has gained significant attention across various sectors, including science and academia, public institutions, and the private sector.
However, prior to this recent surge in interest, there was a notable lack of comprehensive data available to conduct a thorough assessment of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of digital technologies, encompassing both their positive and negative aspects.
Despite the newfound opportunities arising from improved data access and processing capabilities, evaluating the impacts of digital technology remains a complex challenge. Therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge that quantifying these effects is currently an extensive, uncharted territory.