It and Sustainable Development

May 2010
UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

IT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
A Central Issue for the Future
Prepared to:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zulfifli Mohamed Udin
Suhaili Binti Mohd Zain (ID: 806611)

Master of Business Administration (General)
STIM 5013 – IT FOR MANAGERS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Information technology (IT) is comprised of computers, networks, satellite
communications, robotics, electronic mail, automated office equipment and many
more that can simplified and give benefits to today human’s job. Completing tasks
using IT can improve reliability and integrity of processed information. IT has
advanced tremendously since its invention and will continue to advance in the future.
In today's world, owing to its wide applications, sound knowledge of information
technology is a must for everybody to get the better future and to access the
sustainability development.
2.0 TREND AND CHALLENGES FOR IT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
IT is currently taking center stage and can help every spec of our life. IT can help us
in reduction in resource consumption. To leverage the impact of ICT and particularly
to stop the exponential growth of resource consumption, a series of activities need to
be done. These activities typically refer to energy efficient hardware technology and
reduction of unsafe chemicals used.
IT also helps to eliminate of absolute and relative poverty. In the era of globalization,
new technologies are rapidly reshaping the livelihoods and lifestyles of people
throughout the world. New and improved technologies, which human living in
poverty can use in ways which are appropriate to their context and needs, where they
can expand and improve their livelihood options, increase their productivity and
incomes, improve the quality of the goods and services that they use, and also
enhance the quality of their lives.

Other than that, IT is also dealing with demographic changes which are increase in the
elderly population. This enormous increase in the average lifespan is largely due to
the contributions from improved medical standards, nutrition and sanitation that have
sprung from advances in science and technology. In general, today's children can
grow up without fear of infectious diseases and the elderly are able to maintain better
health in comparison to people of the same age in the past.
Various technology breakthroughs are expected in area such as bio technology,
materials and information technology. As these are interrelated, new opportunities and
threats will emerge requiring international cooperation.
3.0 GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE WHICH IT DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTES
TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Government have to play their role to support IT development that contributes to
sustainable development. Firstly, a clearly vision can help government to focus on the
technological and economic aspects of introducing sustainable development.
Governments can encourage the development and implementation of clean
technologies through the use laws and regulations. Economic aspects also take the
main role where it is the central driving forces for IT contributes to sustainable
development.
Government also can support on resources both personal and monetary. They can
support with giving special allocations for IT projects and encourage all relevant
parties to involve in IT development with sustainable development.

Besides that, government also must know their responsibility and be a pioneer of IT
initiatives for sustainable development, particularly in the chosen priority area. It is
follow by the final prerequisite for creating an efficient framework for gathering and
supporting initiatives in which IT development contributes to sustainable
development which is focus and structure. Each clearly vision identified must be
followed up and evaluated.
4.0 FOUR PRINCIPAL ON IT AND SUSTAINABILITY IN PRIVATE AND
PUBLIC SECTORS
Four principles could serve as a basis for integrating discussion on IT and
sustainability in all organisations. First, shift the focus from products to services.
When we want to market any product, try to provide more services to sell the product
that will convenient customers such as market it virtually like in a website so that this
can reducing traffic jam and petrol.
Second, highlight the issue of environmental benefits in all major IT investments. For
example apply IT solutions to enable and encourage remote collaboration with
individuals, governments and organizations to reduce or remove the need for
individual travel.
Third, reduce rebound effects and calculate total gains. This can see from
transformation of business method by using e-commerce that can reduce resource
consumption. The final principal is use parallel time horizons. This will be the
solution of long term reductions in carbon dioxide and resource consumption.

5.0 FOUR PROPOSED AREAS INVOLVING IT AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
A limited number of focus areas should be defined to prevent IT and sustainability.
Firstly, focus on energy environmental impacts of IT products. Develop a product that
can save energy and provide users with clearer information about the environmental
impact when used in various ways. Secondly, focus on transport and communication
which is also known as virtual mobility. We have to encourage information or
communication via mobile phones, video and telephone conference and also home-
base telework means that we minimised the need for physical transport.
Other than that, we also must focus on community planning which is can minimising
transport between the home and the workplace. Intelligent housing projects must be
support which is we can controlling lighting, heating, air conditioning, security
systems, audio-visual equipment or appliances that can save of energy, money and
also reduce carbon footprint. It also come with solutions to reduce the level of
emissions from buildings and core infrastructure through improved design,
monitoring and control, as well as engineering and construction industry support
through appropriate tools to reduce energy needs. Finally, we also focus on
production and consumption patterns. Technology improvement cannot only focus in
the city but also concentrate in the rural area. This can eliminate the issue of bridging
digital divide.
7.0 CONCLUSION
This article provides an introductory overview of the IT on contributing and the
challenges on sustainability development. Everybody needs to involve at each level
and consider what approaches are needed to support IT and sustainable development.
IT must look beyond the areas and the societal level issues of sustainable
development.

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May 2010

UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zulfifli Mohamed Udin

Suhaili Binti Mohd Zain (ID: 806611)

Information technology (IT) is comprised of computers, networks, satellite

communications, robotics, electronic mail, automated office equipment and many

using IT can improve reliability and integrity of processed information. IT has

In today's world, owing to its wide applications, sound knowledge of information

2.0 TREND AND CHALLENGES FOR IT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

in reduction in resource consumption. To leverage the impact of ICT and particularly

to stop the exponential growth of resource consumption, a series of activities need to

reduction of unsafe chemicals used.

enhance the quality of their lives.

health in comparison to people of the same age in the past.

Various technology breakthroughs are expected in area such as bio technology,

threats will emerge requiring international cooperation.

3.0 GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE WHICH IT DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTES

Government have to play their role to support IT development that contributes to

technological and economic aspects of introducing sustainable development.

Governments can encourage the development and implementation of clean

parties to involve in IT development with sustainable development.

initiatives for sustainable development, particularly in the chosen priority area. It is

supporting initiatives in which IT development contributes to sustainable

followed up and evaluated.

4.0 FOUR PRINCIPAL ON IT AND SUSTAINABILITY IN PRIVATE AND

Four principles could serve as a basis for integrating discussion on IT and

can reducing traffic jam and petrol.

example apply IT solutions to enable and encourage remote collaboration with

individuals, governments and organizations to reduce or remove the need for

transformation of business method by using e-commerce that can reduce resource

solution of long term reductions in carbon dioxide and resource consumption.

5.0 FOUR PROPOSED AREAS INVOLVING IT AND SUSTAINABLE

A limited number of focus areas should be defined to prevent IT and sustainability.

Firstly, focus on energy environmental impacts of IT products. Develop a product that

which is also known as virtual mobility. We have to encourage information or

support which is we can controlling lighting, heating, air conditioning, security

emissions from buildings and core infrastructure through improved design,

monitoring and control, as well as engineering and construction industry support

through appropriate tools to reduce energy needs. Finally, we also focus on

production and consumption patterns. Technology improvement cannot only focus in

This article provides an introductory overview of the IT on contributing and the

challenges on sustainability development. Everybody needs to involve at each level

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