Spangenberg, J., R. Mesicek, A. Metzner, F.Luks

Sustainability Indicators for the knowledge-based society - Measuring the Sustainability of the Information society

Futura 21(2/2002): p.85-95

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have been widely discussed from the technological supply side. Societal demand, or more specifically, the current shift to a network knowledge society, will not be possible without ICT. However, that will in turn influence the kind of ICT used, the way it is produced, used and disposed of. The resulting changes in the communication structure and infrastructure will have repercussions for the movement towards a sustainable society: it will be able to positively or negatively influence the worldwide increase of resource use and environmental charges, economic performance and social cohesion. These effects are partly recognised and discussed, but there are no generally accepted means to measure the progress towards a sustainable knowledge society or its lack of development, and in particular the influence of ICT with respect to sustainable development.

This paper outlines some essentials of a knowledge society with respect to sustainable development, and suggests a preliminary set of indicators to monitor this process.