Written by Michalina Szpyrka / Translation by Aleksandra Krzysztoszek / Euractiv.pl / FocuEurope.pl
Climate and Technology: Achieving Sustainable Development in the Digital Era
As algorithms approach autonomous importance and sustainable development shifts from optional to essential, a constant tension exists between innovation and regulation. The core question remains: Can we balance rapid technological advancement with the critical need to safeguard social and environmental values?
For years, global policy has prioritised sustainable development, which aims to reconcile the economic, social, and environmental needs of both current and future generations. Crucially, technology, particularly digital technology, is becoming an increasingly vital tool in the pursuit of these objectives.
Digital technologies offer great promise—like better efficiency, a greener future, and improved public services. Yet, they also pose risks, such as increasing inequality, causing social exclusion, and potentially threatening human rights.
Digital technologies like AI and big data help sustainable development by improving climate analysis, cutting industrial emissions, and increasing access to education and healthcare. Yet, they also pose risks to privacy, individual freedom, and democracy. Therefore, law and politics must balance these pros and cons.
Two worlds: deregulatory and regulatory approaches
When it comes to regulating new technologies like artificial intelligence, two main approaches exist.
One, called the techno-liberal or deregulatory model, favours very little government control. This view prioritises technological progress, seeing it as essential for innovation and economic growth. Therefore, risks from AI are considered manageable through the market and self-regulation.
A regulatory approach, on the other hand, requires laws to limit technology’s negative impact and protect fundamental rights.
This is the model adopted by the European Union, among others, as reflected in the adoption of the AI Act. The regulations are intended to prevent the use of AI for mass surveillance, manipulation of public opinion or profiling of citizens without their knowledge and consent.
The European Union as a leader in ethical digitalisation
The EU is firmly positioning itself as a world leader in developing an ethical framework for digital technologies. This approach is rooted in a strong commitment to safeguarding fundamental rights and ensuring accountability among the developers and users of these emerging systems.
EU legislation, from the GDPR to the AI Act, points the way forward for a digital transformation based on democratic values.
The European legal model serves a dual purpose: it both regulates and encourages innovation. By establishing a clear framework and promoting high standards, it aims to reconcile the rapid expansion of new technologies with the goal of creating an equitable information society.
New responsibilities and redefinition of liability
The rise of digital technologies necessitates a fundamental re-evaluation of legal liability.
New questions emerge: Who bears responsibility when an algorithm makes a decision? How can we ascertain the intent of software developers when the outcomes of their work are inherently difficult to foresee?
The legal framework must evolve to address challenges that surpass the scope of traditional categories like contractual or tort liability.
Many now agree that “algorithmic liability” should be implemented. This means the organisations using or managing AI systems would be held responsible for the results. This will better protect citizens and make digital systems clearer.
Environmental transformation in the data age
The environmental impact of digitalization must also be acknowledged. While information technologies facilitate the optimization of energy consumption, their own ecological footprint remains substantial.
The pursuit of climate objectives can be impeded by factors such as the energy demands of AI systems, the manufacturing of electronic devices, and the operation of data centers.
The concept of “green digitalization” has emerged, advocating for the creation of technologies that facilitate the energy transition and advance sustainable development objectives. Legislation is crucial in this effort, specifically by enforcing energy efficiency standards and encouraging responsible system design.
The global dimension of responsibility
Since digitalisation transcends national borders, the question of jurisdiction for states and international organisations is pertinent. While the regulatory power of bodies like the EU can exert global influence (known as the “Brussels effect”), international cooperation mechanisms are increasingly crucial.
The UN, OECD and Council of Europe are undertaking initiatives aimed at creating common standards and principles for digital governance.
At the same time, the importance of so-called soft law – guidelines, codes of ethics and good practices – is growing, complementing formal legal standards and allowing for faster adaptation to the dynamic technological reality.
The future between risk and hope
Technological advancement presents a critical juncture: will it serve as a liberating power that champions democracy and social justice, or will it devolve into an instrument perpetuating control, widening inequality, and accelerating environmental ruin?
The solution rests with a diverse group, including lawyers, politicians, and citizens, not just programmers and engineers.
Achieving sustainable development in the digital age demands both technological and legal innovation. A framework is essential—one that not only avoids hindering progress but actively directs it toward the common good.
This is the only path to preventing ‘digital Darwinism’ and building a future that benefits all, rather than just a select few.
Original article: https://focuseurope.pl/europa/wiadomosci/klimat-a-technologia-jak-osiagnac-zrownowazony-rozwoj-w-technologicznym-swiecie