Digitalization and the Anthropocene

Great claims have been made about the benefits of dematerialization in a digital service economy. However, digitalization has historically increased environmental impacts at local and planetary scales, affecting labor markets, resource use, governance, and power relationships. Here we study the past...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of environment and resources 2022-01, Vol.47 (1), p.479-509
Main Authors: Creutzig, Felix, Acemoglu, Daron, Bai, Xuemei, Edwards, Paul N, Hintz, Marie Josefine, Kaack, Lynn H, Kilkis, Siir, Kunkel, Stefanie, Luers, Amy, Milojevic-Dupont, Nikola, Rejeski, Dave, Renn, Jürgen, Rolnick, David, Rosol, Christoph, Russ, Daniela, Turnbull, Thomas, Verdolini, Elena, Wagner, Felix, Wilson, Charlie, Zekar, Aicha, Zumwald, Marius
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropocene
artificial intelligence
digitalization
leverage points
planetary stability
trust
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Summary:Great claims have been made about the benefits of dematerialization in a digital service economy. However, digitalization has historically increased environmental impacts at local and planetary scales, affecting labor markets, resource use, governance, and power relationships. Here we study the past, present, and future of digitalization through the lens of three interdependent elements of the Anthropocene: ( a ) planetary boundaries and stability, ( b ) equity within and between countries, and ( c ) human agency and governance, mediated via ( i ) increasing resource efficiency, ( ii ) accelerating consumption and scale effects, ( iii ) expanding political and economic control, and ( iv ) deteriorating social cohesion. While direct environmental impacts matter, the indirect and systemic effects of digitalization are more profoundly reshaping the relationship between humans, technosphere and planet. We develop three scenarios: planetary instability, green but inhumane, and deliberate for the good. We conclude with identifying leverage points that shift human-digital-Earth interactions toward sustainability.
ISSN:1543-5938
1545-2050
DOI:10.1146/annurev-environ-120920-100056