Description

ICT is becoming ever more ubiquitous within further and higher education, for e-learning, in research, E-administration and other ways. This creates many benefits, including ones of direct relevance to sustainable development such as improving accessibility for disadvantaged groups, and reducing
environmental impacts by substituting virtual for physical activities (as when conferencing substitutes for face-to-face meetings).

ICT in UK further and higher education has a large environmental footprint However, the benefits of ICT are partially offset by ‘hidden’ environmental, and, on occasion, social costs.

A scaling up of findings at the University of Sheffield, Lowestoft College and City College, Norwich, suggests that UK universities and colleges as a whole: Utilise nearly 1,470,000 computers, 250,000 printers and 240,000 servers Will have ICT-related electricity bills of around £116m in 2009, and Are indirectly emitting over 500,000t of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from this electricity use The production, and disposal, of ICT equipment also involves the release of many hazardous substances; consumes large quantities of energy and water; generates large amounts of waste; and sometimes involves dangerous and exploitative working practices (discarded computers from UK universities have been seen, for example, at unsafe recycling sites in Africa).
There is a growing consensus amongst experts, leading ICT suppliers and policy makers, that the combination of rapid ICT growth and negative environmental impacts of the kind described, make current ICT practices and trajectories unsustainable.

Several studies have suggested that ICT is already responsible for 2% of global carbon emissions, and that its relative share will increase further.

A report of University of Bradford for the Joint Information Services Committee (JISC)