Making the Net Work: Sustainable Development in a Digital Society

The Internet is the biggest shared space for communication that has ever existed, the mobile telephone expands communication possibilities even further. These two information and communication technologies (ICTs) are helping to change the way humans communicate, widening the possibilities on a scale that is both fantastic and frightening. They are transforming the way we live and work, our social relationships and communities, even our impact on the environment.Can we realise the potential of ICT and make it work for sustainable development? "Making the Net Work" argues that we can. By investigating the relationship between the use of ICT and regional economies in Europe, researching the intensity of ICT and its potential to contribute to a reduction in resource use, and focusing on the response of business to the opportunities for greater social responsibility, this book affirms the fact that there are no easy solutions to the challenges we face.Delivering sustainable development depends on the involvement of business, government, consumers and citizens and the authors present practical recommendations for all these groups.Arguing passionately for the adoption of values that can make a real difference, "Making the Net Work" is intended for anyone with an interest in sustainable development, new technology, or both.The authors are all researchers at Forum for the Future where they specialise in the critical relationship between innovation, technology and sustainable development.They work directly with businesses, including those in the ICT sector, advising them on their social and environmental impacts and their approach to sustainable development. They also conduct research forregional and national government and the European Commission, designed to steer business and public policy making on innovation and technology in a more sustainable direction. Between them, they have produced a large number of acclaimed reports and articles on technology and sustainable development. Forum for the Future is a UK-based sustainable development charity working to accelerate the transition to a sustainable way of life. It develops partnerships with business, local authorities, regional bodies and universities and seeks to influence a wider network of decision-makers and opinion formers through cutting edge projects.

Review :
"There is no doubt in my mind that global problems like climate change and poverty require solutions on a global scale, and ICT is certainly joining people up across borders, as they have never been joined up before. What I particularly like is that here we have a book about the relationship between ICT and sustainable development that reminds us of the importance of shared social values in creating any sort of change. If "Making The Net Work" means using ICT to realign our values to those of sustainable development, then we're talking about technological progress of a very different kind." -- from the foreword by Johnathon Porritt, Chair, UK Sustainable Development Commission