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ACTIVITIES :: Sustainable Growth

  ICT for Sustainable Growth

Improving our quality of life should not damage the environment for future generations. Achieving sustainable growth requires better management of all natural resources, from energy to water. Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can help us to manage finite natural resources and energy consumption much more efficiently, so improving environmental protection without holding back economic development.
 

The environment is an increasing priority for policy-makers and citizens across Europe. People and governments worry about the impact of climate change and the inefficient use (or over-use) of natural resources, such as drinking water and energy supplies. On the other hand, we rely on economic growth to improve our standards of living, to ensure decent healthcare, education, food and shelter are available to all.
Sustainable growth means finding the right balance, ensuring we can continue to improve the quality of life of all citizens without harming our environment.

The Information Society and Media Directorate-General of the European Commission is focusing its efforts on many areas such as Energy Efficient Buildings, Smart Grids and Smart Metering, Freight, Logistic and Transport, Greener ICT, Water Management, Environmental Sustainability, Risk and Disaster Management.

As with other uses of ICT, successful implementation to foster sustainable growth is more about designing appropriate applications and changing their users’ behaviour than about simply developing new technology. The EU has two major funding programmes supporting ICT projects: the Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7) developing ICTs, and the ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP) which brings together ICT businesses and policy-makers to encourage faster uptake of new ICT applications.