This year the world marks the 55th annual Earth Day on 22 April, calling for increased attention to the global climate crisis and the actions that must be taken towards environmental justice and sustainability. Premised on the theme “Our Power, Our Planet”, Earth Day 2025 is challenging people to amplify the discourse on renewable energy.
APC has a long history of working on climate justice issues, bolstered by many members, partners and associates across our network who are actively engaged at the intersection of digital technologies and environmental sustainability. While several global leaders are increasingly diverting attention and resources away from the climate crisis, environmental degradation continues to escalate at a rapid pace and we ask ourselves, what can we do as a network to put the focus back onto nurturing our planet?
This Earth Day, we revisit the 2020 edition of Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) on the theme of “Technology, the environment and a sustainable world”. Across dozens of country, regional and thematic reports, authors around the world have examined pressing environmental concerns and proposed recommendations that still point in important directions to help shift towards an environment and human-rights respecting approach to technology.
The setbacks can seem never-ending and the risks formidable, but the urgency to demand regulation and accountability from states and corporations to preserve our planet is greater than ever. For this reason it is important to strategise on how we can effect change, mobilise communities and advocate for our planet as a network.
Below you will find advice and insights in the form of action steps by authors and researchers from the GISWatch community who have been sounding the call for environmental justice. They propose channels for our advocacy as concerned civil society groups who wish for a thriving future for our planet – on this Earth Day and every day – by asking what we can do to support the planetary ecosystem we call home.
Cross-pollinate across movements
We know that meaningful change requires solidarity and strength in numbers, and that a lot of time, labour and knowledge can be harnessed when we work together instead of trying to “reinvent the wheel”. Through a collective approach to tackling the climate crisis, we can explore ways to significantly amplify our advocacy.
“Activists and researchers at the intersection of human rights and technology must create strategies for accountability of the environmental impact of digital corporations, adopting a critical perspective towards devices and technologies that claim to be ‘green’. This should take into consideration issues of neoliberal neocoloniality and promote respect for non-Western cosmologies.” Read the LAC regional report by Gato.Earth.
“Building networks of expertise and support beyond existing silos, for example, connecting human rights and environmental defenders, so that they can influence the implementation of digital justice and open governance. In doing this, both bureaucracy and corruption in the environmental sector will be reduced.” Read the Europe regional report by BlueLink.
“Build advocacy networks, by connecting civil society organisations with others working towards achieving the same sustainable development goals.” Read the Lebanon county report by The American University of Beirut Nature Conservation Center.
Encouraging local and decentralised alternatives in response to the concentration of power
Localised, innovative and community-based pathways are crucial for exploring and adopting technological solutions that support the people and the planet. Through resilience and creativity we can shift the narratives of power and implement practices that prioritise agency and empowerment.
"Similar to the consolidation we see in the agricultural space, there are major monopolies controlling much of the spectrum and investment while only connecting half of the world's population, making it extremely challenging for local, more grassroots models to emerge. Despite these barriers, a significant number of community networks have managed to thrive where other networks did not exist or are not affordable or adequately meeting the needs of local people." Read the thematic report by Rhizomatica.
"Though diversity is a basic principle for a non-monocultural world, lands and livelihoods are increasingly being swallowed by, among other things, techno-solutionism discourses and green economy narratives. And here we make it clear that this is not to deny the importance of the climate debate and international forums. On the contrary, the discussion we bring is about deepening democratic processes, and not the opposite, as extreme right-wing currents try to do by appropriating the debate on the climate and denying it, making everything even more absurd and deepening racism, xenophobia and inequalities. Read the thematic report by Free University of Berlin – Gender Division; Intervozes; Harvard Kennedy School – Carr Center; Coding Rights.
Recognise the leading role of Indigenous communities
Without the input and guidance of the keepers of the lands and waters, we are neglecting lifetimes of accumulated wisdom and experience, leading us to waste resources at best and develop ineffectual “solutions” while reproducing colonial practices at worst. Partnering with Indigenous communities who intrinsically understand the delicate balance of their ecosystem is critical to integrating sustainable approaches into our work.
“Indigenous peoples must be directly involved in the conservation of their territories according to their ancestral customs and rituals.” Read the LAC regional report by Tecnológico de Antioquia Institución Universitaria, Colombia.
“Integrate women and Indigenous, Afrodescendant and rural populations, among others, who have been excluded from the digital industry in the construction of the technology that countries require, so that they are no longer considered solely as technology consumers.” Read the Costa Rica country report by Cooperativa Sulá Batsú.
“Shift narratives from sustainable development to socio-environmental justice and other views based on territorial diversities and that make power relations visible.” Read the Brazil country report by Intervozes.
"Environmental justice and sustainability require the protection of Indigenous peoples' inherent rights to their lands, territories and resources, and to self-determination. It also requires the sustainable and equitable use of natural resources. This protection will provide the enabling environment for Indigenous peoples to continue their practice of living in harmony with nature." Read the thematic report by Indigenous Peoples Rights International.
Apply a feminist lens for socio-environmental justice
Environmental justice must centre the inclusion of women, girls and gender diverse people in all their diversities. Sustainability is more attainable if systems of inequality are identified and addressed, ensuring the full and effective participation of entire communities.
"Strengthen accountability and oversight. This includes building the capacity of public institutions, the media and civil society organisations (including women farmers’ organisations) to monitor the inclusiveness and sustainability of digital policies." Read the Benin country report by POPDEV Bénin.
“After careful deliberation with communities and/or organisations, programmes should clearly delineate what will be monitored and how. They should always involve different community members – e.g. women and youth – in these decisions.” Read the LAC regional report by Sylvia Cifuentes.
"Digital literacy training by relevant civil society organisations can help rural women and smallholder farmers take full advantage of advanced ICT applications to share and gain knowledge of farming practices and ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change." Read the Zimbabwe country report by Patience Shawarira.
“A feminist internet respects life in all its forms; it does not consume it. Our proposal for a feminist internet principle in relation to the environment resignifies care towards an ethics of collective care in choices around design, extraction, production, consumption and disposal of the technologies involved.” Read the thematic report by Sursiendo.
Engage youth in training and knowledge transfer
Multi-generational knowledge sharing is a powerful tool to ensure that lessons learned are carried forward and mistakes are not repeated so that we keep building momentum in our work. New voices are critical in the sustainability of any movement, and the youth in our communities bring fresh perspectives and renewed energy to our environmental activism.
“Civil society movements should embrace young environmental activists and train them on how to use digital tools safely for online collaboration.” Read the Africa regional report by Africa Youth Advisory Board on Disaster Risk Reduction.
“Involving more young people who are more knowledgeable about ICT tools in digital justice and the potential positive impact of this on the environment.” Read the Europe regional report by BlueLink.
Develop rights respecting, sustainable and repairable technologies
Integrating environmentally respectful design, manufacturing and use models into the development of technologies is a crucial step in reducing our impact on the planet at every stage of production. This means ensuring that users have control around the choice, use and repair of their devices, which is particularly urgent given the speed and scale at which our dependence on these tools is growing.
“Governments will need to ensure that AI [artificial intelligence] technologies not only contribute to the protection of the environment, but also that there is a balance between employment and protection of the territory with the development of sustainable technologies.” Read the LAC regional report by Tecnológico de Antioquia Institución Universitaria, Colombia.
“In the course of the climate crisis response, ICTs should be introduced in a way that addresses problems but does not infringe on human rights and minimise the negative impact of ICTs on the climate crisis.” Read the Korea country report by Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet.
“Transparency and accountability: Ensuring the right to know about the environmental impact and social responsibility involved in end-of-use devices. This includes what buyers do with their devices, and what manufacturers and recyclers do with the devices they collect for recycling.” Read the Spain country report by eReuse, LaKalle and Pangea.
“Design technology for resilience and appropriation. Privilege a renewable energy-first approach.” Read the LAC regional report by Rhizomatica.
Demand transparent monitoring and increased research
Accurate and robust data is key to understanding our needs and habits in order to implement policies that mitigate environmental harm. Knowledge is power, and the more we understand how our consumption of digital technologies is affecting the planet, the better we can position ourselves to make impactful recommendations for governance and regulation.
“The capacities of the different actors in the fight against climate change must be strengthened for better understanding and use of monitoring data.” Read the Cameroon country report by PROTEGE QV.
“The government is in charge of monitoring the behaviour of environmental indicators. Because of this they must manage data and information in a transparent and timely manner, and make the data and information available where different organisations can access them, through web platforms or institutional repositories.” Read the Venezuela country report by Latin American School of Networks Foundation (EsLaRed).
“Monitoring programmes must respond to more holistic conceptions of the territory that are fundamental for Indigenous organisations.” Read the LAC regional report by Sylvia Cifuentes.
“The government should take full responsibility for ensuring equal access to data when promoting open data by providing comprehensive resources tailored to the needs of different communities. Factors such as unequal access to information, the technology access gap, and the digital divide in education, all need to be taken into account.” Read the Taiwan country report by Feminist Leadership and Mobilization on the Edge (FLAME).
Support e-waste recycling and circular economies
People around the world are adopting digital technologies at a dizzying rate. While this can contribute to empowerment, communication and community building, it also produces electronic waste on a scale that is impossible to sustain. Responsibility comes from a spectrum of stakeholders to both minimise the damage and advocate for alternative and healthier systems of consumption.
“Manufacturers must be required and committed to ensure that devices are easily repaired, thus avoiding the escalating rise of electrical and electronic waste, by changing the accelerated pace of buying, use and disposal.” Read the Colombia country report by Colnodo.
“The government should support waste recycling initiatives by establishing a waste separation system that will separate biodegradable from non-biodegradable waste in garbage cans and landfills.” Read the Democratic Republic of Congo country report by Mesh Bukavu.
“We highlight the need to disseminate information on the problems generated by the consumption of devices and the benefits of reuse.” Read the Argentina report by Nodo TAU.
“There is a need to lobby for basic social protection for informal e-waste workers, such as fixed working hours, leisure time, ensuring minimum wages and due payment of wages.” Read the India country report by Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF).
“There is a need for the government to take the issue of the circular economy seriously. It can do this through a review of the country’s e-waste policy so that it makes clear provisions for recycling, and encourages new recycling initiatives in the market through incentives.” Read the Nigeria country report by Centre for Information and Technology Development (CITAD).
Read the full edition of Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) 2020, “Technology, the environment and a sustainable world”.
Visit APC’s Guide to the circular economy, which describes the concepts, processes and challenges to circularity, summarising the key challenges and opportunities, including for policy advocacy.
Learn how we have been collectively shaping a Feminist Principle of the Internet on the environment.