Whilst perhaps not immediately apparent, ICT can be used to facilitate and even help move towards a more sustainable society. The potential synergies range from simply using ICT to communicate sustainable development, to the potential of teleworking to cut down on car emissions more pervasive.

Since 1999 Forum for the Future has been working on the sustainable development implications of ICT and also, through its Regional Futures programme, on how sustainable development is promoted at the regional level. In 2002 we began to bring these two strands of work together, with the Welsh Assembly Government, to identify how to link sustainable development and ICT through devolved governance. The results led to the current research to examine how ICT and sustainable development were being linked within English regions.

This research project, "ICT and sustainable development in regional strategies" aims to use some of the theoretical research, as well as practical examples, to provide a basis for understanding how ICT is currently being used, and could be used in the future, to contribute to sustainable development strategies at a regional level in England

For more information please contact publicsector@forumforthefuture.org.uk

Download now: Making the net work for the regions