Understanding digitalization’s environmental impact: why LCA is essential for informed decision-making [Comment]

Bluhm, Hannes; Wohlschlager, Daniela; Pohl, Johanna; Beucker, Severin; Bieser, Jan; Schien, Daniel; Widdicks, Kelly ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3502-9172; Friday, Adrian; Blair, Gordon Shaw ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6212-1906. 2025 Understanding digitalization’s environmental impact: why LCA is essential for informed decision-making [Comment]. npj Climate Action, 4 (1), 41. 3, pp. 10.1038/s44168-025-00246-1

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text N539366JA.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (358kB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

This comment critiques Gritsenko et al.‘s dismissal of environmental assessments such as Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) in analyzing digitalization’s environmental impacts. While acknowledging the need for action amidst uncertainty, we argue that LCA yet provides valuable insights into potential impacts, trade-offs, and areas to focus on in a supply chain. Especially in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, LCA helps manage decision-makers’ uncertainty and informs targeted measures for sustainable digital infrastructure deployment and use.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/s44168-025-00246-1
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	National Capability and Digital Research (2025-)
ISSN:	2731-9814
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	climate-change mitigation, environmental impact, technology
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Computer Science Data and Information
Date made live:	06 May 2025 15:07 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539366

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...