Methods for sustainability assessments of ICT

Project description

Sustainability assessments of ICT solutions are needed as a basis for discussions on how ICT can enable sustainable development. There are many tools available that can provide useful and interesting results. There are however also important questions that are difficult to answer with current methodology. The overall aim of this project is to contribute to the methodological development of tools for sustainability assessment of ICT solutions.

Work packages

1. Rebound and other indirect effects ICT products and services can have direct impacts, but they can also substitute other products and services. In addition, they can also lead to indirect effects such as rebound effects, changed practises and learning. These types of indirect effects are studied in this work package.

2. Social LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) and socio-economic assessments This work package contributes to the development of social LCA and monetised weighting methods.

3. Uncertainty and simplification Two subprojects are continued from previous CESC projects, one on simplifications of ICT products and one on identifying major impacts from ICT products and services.

4. Other methodological aspects The project will include other activities within the general framework of developing methods for sustainability assessments for ICT products, services and systems.

5. Case studies Both at KTH and non-academic partners, case studies of sustainability assessments of ICT products, services and systems will be performed. 

Project leader

Göran Finnveden, goran.finnveden@abe.kth.se             

Participating partners                     

Ericsson, TeliaSonera

Project start / end

July 2012 - June 2015