Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/ficbiwfOPSo
The interest in establishing the interconnections between ICT and Environment is growing in recent times. The reason behind this exploration is the widespread emphasis on sustainable development. The policymakers formulating the developmental goals have realized the drawbacks of uncontrolled development in the last century. So they included many goals that address environmental concerns.
There is consensus among policymakers that the economic growth that pollutes air and water, which reduces forest and agricultural land, will never satisfy the needs of the future generation. Hence the SDGs such as the provision of clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), actions for regulating climate change (SDG 13), and protecting life below water and on land (SDG 14 and SDG 15) are directly linked to environmental science and engineering.
Newer clean and green technologies need to be developed and adopted, especially in civil engineering, construction, water management, urban development, and maintaining biodiversity.
Policymakers have also identified the Energy sector as one of the high impact sectors that have continuously damaged the earth environment. This sector also drives industrial development and economic growth. The energy demand increases exponentially because of the growing population and the widespread use of electro-mechanical devices to carry out routine works. Conventional energy generation methods that use natural resources such as coal and fossil fuels fail to meet this increasing energy demand. Hence, the goal of affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) is directly related to the Energy sector.
In this context, it is required to provide technological solutions that aim to reduce energy demand, develop efficient energy production, replace conventional energy sources, and protect life on land, air, and water.
Out of this necessity, many Environment-friendly ICT products and services have been developed. Also, innovative ICT applications are being envisioned in different developmental sectors to reduce the ecological footprint of those sectors.
The coming episodes will review some of such approaches based on Blockchain Technology, IoT, and Fog Computing and address the issues in environmental sciences and energy sectors.
