This presentation will explore what digital sustainability is and how digital practices can align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), complementing the ecological view that focuses on the resource demands of digital technologies. Digital sustainability extends beyond immediate environmental impacts to consider how digital tools can foster innovation, improve education, and increase access to information, all critical for sustainable development. By examining the intersections between digitality and sustainability, the talk will highlight the pivotal roles individuals and higher education institutions (HEIs) can play in advancing digital sustainability.
The talk will trace the emergence of digital sustainability as a concept and its relationship to open source software, open data, and the commons. It will also ask how higher education institutions can integrate digital sustainability into their curricula, research, and operations, and how individuals can support these goals through their digital practices. By rethinking our approach to digital technologies, we can enhance our sustainability efforts and inspire participants to contribute to a more sustainable future.
