Tech innovation critical for future sustainability, report finds

Tech innovation : Technological innovation will play a critical role in tackling environmental challenges that arise in the near future, a new report by Ericsson has found.

Tech innovation critical for future sustainability, report finds

Ericsson’s latest ConsumerLab report revealed fresh insights on consumer attitudes toward sustainability challenges, and how technology could help them to make a greater positive impact. Based on a quantitative study of 12,000 Internet users from across the world, the report uncovers the current consumer mindset of leading environmentally sustainable lifestyles.

In the last two decades, concern about air and water pollution has risen from concerning one in five consumers, to almost one in two. While consideration for climate change and global warming has also risen from 13 per cent of consumers to 50 per cent. The study also found that globally, eight in ten consumers consider governments as being responsible for environmental protection, with approximately 70 per cent also considering citizens responsible. Consumers also see the need for collective action, with 50 per cent expecting companies and brands to uphold their share of the responsibility.

The study also showed that 46 per cent of consumers also see technological innovation as critical to tackling future environmental challenges. Further, 36 per cent would like their devices to offer guidance on living more environmentally consciously. Consumers who think technology will be crucial in solving future environmental challenges express almost twice the interest in various ICT solutions to help them live more environmentally consciously, compared to others.

“ICT tools and services can play a significant part in assisting consumer’s daily efforts to reduce their personal environmental impact,” said Zeynep Ahmet Vidal, senior researcher at Ericsson Consumer & IndustryLab. “We see in our study that consumers do perceive ICT as helpful as an aid in their daily life, be it for environmental, health, cost or convenience-related reasons. But ICT also has the potential to enable future tech innovation in climate action, and here the service providers have a unique opportunity and position to provide novel solutions that can aid consumers in making more sustainable choices in daily life.”

This news was originally published at khaleejtimes.com