Ⅰ. Background and Aims of Research
o In this report, we identify a new demand for environmental policy research due to rapid expansion of data technology, and draw a research roadmap for this new demand.
ㅇ In the 21st century, Data technology is rapidly progressing and expanding. However, the environmental effect of this data technology expansion is uncertain.
- Data Technology : Technology for data collection, storage, analysis and distribution
ㅇ The size of the socio-economic impact of data technology expansion itself is uncertain, and the environmental consequence of this socio-economic impact is also uncertain.
- It is unclear if data technology could bring enormous socio-economic change comparable to the socio-economic changes caused by the 1st-3rd Industrial Revolutions.
- The environmental consequence of the socio-economic change from data technology expansion is a complex mixture of diverse effects.
＊Efficiency effect : productivity growth → reduction of resource input → less environmental burden
＊Rebound effect : productivity growth → decreased unit cost → market expansion → more environmental burden
＊Market expansion effect : technology progress → decreased transaction cost → market expansion → more environmental burden
＊Consumption control effect: data technology → optimized consumption → reduced consumption → less environmental burden
ㅇ We need environmental policies to lessen the potential environmental burden from data technology progress, and utilize data technology to improve environmental policy
- Use the efficiency effect and the consumption control effect