IGF 2020 WS #339 The circular economy of ICT

Time
Friday, 13th November, 2020 (09:40 UTC) - Friday, 13th November, 2020 (11:10 UTC)
Room
Room 1
Subtheme

Organizer 1: Leandro Navarro Moldes, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Organizer 2: Yunusa Ya'u, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
Organizer 3: Shawna Finnegan, Association for Progressive Communications

Speaker 1: Bako Rozi, Civil Society, Eastern European Group
Speaker 2: Roura Mireia, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Yunusa Ya'u, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 4: Alexandra Lutz, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 5: Andrae Anders, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Moderator

Leandro Navarro Moldes, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Online Moderator

Shawna Finnegan, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Rapporteur

Leandro Navarro Moldes, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Format

Break-out Group Discussions - Flexible Seating - 90 Min

Policy Question(s)

What lessons can been learned from local, regional and global initiatives that have transitioned to circular digital economy models that are environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable? What cooperative networks including all multiple stakeholders are needed? (civil society, manufacturers, consumers, governments, backmarket, eWaste, etc.) What policy and regulations are needed to accelerated transition to a circular model for ICT.

The opportunity to share best practice and policy on a strategic/policy making level and on the implementation level accross regions, actors, and regulatory frameworks. For example, the "Right to Repair movement" in a regional and local context. Identifying policies, laws, regulations, industry initiatives that support transition models. What we are learning about the role of 'right to repair' in the context of COVID-19, the case of fixing ventillators. Do circular models provide viable alternatives in the context of a global crisis, such as COVID-19, the environmental crisis, social justice and inclusion, the culture of reuse, sustainable degrowth.

SDGs

GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Production and Consumption
GOAL 13: Climate Action

Description:

The global environmental crisis requires drastic changes to existing models of design, production, use, disposal, and recycling of digital technology. The choice and use of digital technologies and the policies guiding their production, use and disposal, as well as the recovery of raw materials, have a huge impact on our global environmental crisis, including potentials for mitigation and adaption. This session will present circular digital economy models and stories that are environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. In particular, the session will discuss initiatives that promote local production and use, local renewable energy sources, and adoption of circular and participatory practices for circularity in digital devices, software, internet access and services. The format of this session will include brief presentations of circular digital economy initiatives at the local, regional, and global level. Participants will then be invited to join break-out group discussions on specific issues, such as electronic waste. Each break-out group will be faciliated by a speaker or moderator of the session. The session will conclude with a roundtable discussion that includes reports back from each break-out group. Specific policy questions to be considered include: What lessons can been learned from local, regional and global initiatives that have transitioned to circular digital economy models that are environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable? What cooperative networks including all multiple stakeholders are needed? (civil society, manufacturers, consumers, governments, backmarket, eWaste, etc.) What policy and regulations are needed to accelerated transition to a circular model for ICT.

Expected Outcomes

- Prioritized list of opportunities within the IGF communities to develop, promote, and adopt environmentally and socially sustainable models of the digital economy: a public document with references. - Mapping good / sustainable practices, success stories could be an outcome of such conversations: a poster drawn collectively. - Ideas for or draft of a manifesto for circular ICT - Followup: consider recurrent events and the establishment of a circular ICT network (e.g. from a mailing list to a dynamic coalition)

The session has been designed to facilitate interaction and participation through roundtable and break-out group discussions, inviting all participants to propose topics or issues for consideration by in break-out group discussion, in advance, or during the workshop. Online etherpads will be set up for each break-out group. The organisers intend to faciliate meaningful participation by remote participants through active engagement on social media and through our networks prior to the session, and by exploring opportunities for remote break-out groups on specific topics.

Relevance to Internet Governance: - Contribute to international standards for decision-making at national level relating to how internet infrastructure, and the internet itself, develops - Identify and document best practices including principles, norms, rules, decision-making and governance procedures from local, regional and global initiatives to transition to circular digital economy models that are environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable - Identify cooperative networks and forums across multiple stakeholders that can propose viable environmental and socially sustainable models of the digital economy (civil society, manufacturers, consumers, governments, backmarket, eWaste recyclers, etc.)

Relevance to Theme: This session will convene actors from multiple stakeholders and create opportunities for discussion of results and lessons learnt from diverse experiences, and development of a draft technical and policy framework that is needed to support transition toward use and development of sustainable technology, and at the same time, promote the positive impacts of ICT for climate action.

Online Participation

 

Usage of IGF Official Tool. Additional Tools proposed: Online etherpads to allow anyone local or remote to contribute.