So far, the debates on imagining an ecosocialist alternative have fluctuated between the approaches proposed by advocates of degrowth and those of ecosocialist planning. But it is important to glean insights from both schools of thought, situating them within the context of transformations brought about by digital technologies and other fields like cybernetics, in order to conceive viable alternatives to capitalism.
While neoclassical economics’ reliance on market mechanisms and instruments clearly impedes substantial engagement with planning, so too can an inclination towards localism and community focus. The question arises: how can digital technologies be utilised to address both the environmental crisis and the need for better public planning for the common good?
Decommodifying the internet & AI as digital degrowth.
The structure of the Internet is fundamentally designed to aggregate and direct user data towards expansive advertising networks. Research indicates that the carbon emissions solely associated with the use of browser cookies, specifically from the one million most frequently visited websites, have a major impact. These cookies are responsible for approximately 11,442 metric tons of CO2 emissions monthly. Additionally, the development of artificial intelligence models has been identified as a contributor to environmental degradation. For instance, the operations of OpenAI's ChatGPT, which demands around 500 millilitres of water for every 5 to 50 prompts it processes, exemplify this issue.
This situation necessitates a critical evaluation of the commodification of the Internet and artificial intelligence. The prevailing market mechanisms and their inherent push towards centralization exacerbate these environmental impacts and contribute to a range of socio-economic issues. The focus on consumer-driven models not only intensifies resource consumption but also fosters a digital landscape marked by significant data monopolies.
The pursuit of digital degrowth emerges as a compelling solution to these challenges. It involves advocating for the abolition of commodification of data and the digital domain. By prioritising community governance, open-source development, and sustainability, it is possible to envisage a digital infrastructure that serves public interest over private gains.
Decentralising the Stack
The centralization of data, capital, and resources in the hands of large technology corporations has significant environmental consequences. Data centres, which are crucial to the operations of cloud computing, annually consume an estimated 200 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity. This surpasses the energy consumption of densely populated nations, underscoring the unsustainable nature of current digital architectures. Decentralising data centres can significantly reduce the global energy footprint by distributing the load across a wider, more efficient network of smaller, locally managed servers.
This approach not only lessens the reliance on the infrastructure of a few dominant companies but also paves the way for slower, more sustainable telecommunications architectures. These architectures would prioritise the free exchange of knowledge over the unrestricted flow of financial capital, aligning more closely with the principles of digital equity and environmental sustainability.
Physical infrastructures, designed to integrate seamlessly into urban environments, could serve dual purposes. By resembling clouds distributed among different cities, these structures would not only harvest energy from renewable sources but also house community-centric facilities such as apartments, markets, gyms, and local food production hubs. This concept of 'organic data centres' integrates information technology with sustainable practices, envisioning a future where digital and ecological footprints are minimised.
Moreover, creating alternative server farms and data centres, strategically placed offshore to recycle electronic waste, challenges the current paradigm of electronic waste management. This initiative not only addresses the environmental impact of discarded electronics but also the social injustices faced by less wealthy populations burdened with the waste of affluent nations.
Low & pro-commons Tech rather than Big Tech
There is also a shift towards principles of "low technology" against the prevailing "high technology" ethos championed by major tech conglomerates. This involves a paradigm shift from energy-intensive solutions to methodologies that harness solar, wind, passive human energy, or direct non-electrical energy sources. Low technology, characterised by its minimal reliance on electricity or fossil fuels, emerges as a sustainable alternative and challenges conventional perceptions of technology's role. It redefines technology not merely as a tool for problem-solving but as a vital component in fostering self-organisation and ensuring human sustainability.
It also implicates a broader reconsideration of technological infrastructure and its environmental impact. The current trajectory, dominated by Big Tech's centralised digital architectures, forecasts a significant increase in energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. By 2030, digital technologies could account for 21% of global electricity demand, with their emissions potentially surpassing those of the entire transportation sector by 2040. In this context, the information technology sector already consumes about 7% of the world's electricity.
The proposal to adopt low-tech methodologies is not merely a technical adjustment but a philosophical realignment towards collaborative value creation and sustainable community development. By integrating technologies such as additive manufacturing and web-based interfaces for co-creation, this approach advocates for a digital degrowth paradigm. It emphasises the commons and free technologies as foundational to a sustainable digital ecosystem, challenging the centralised, consumption-driven models of Big Tech.
Popular climate scenario planning
Expanding on the idea of popular modelling and taking inspiration from former Chilean President Salvador Allende's initiative, Project Cybersyn, which aimed to empower workers with the capability to plan and manage production in their factories, there's a compelling opportunity to adapt these principles for empowering citizens in scenario planning under climate change.
The critiques of current models, such as those from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), often centre around their singular focus on growth, reliance on cost-benefit analysis, technocratic approach, and underlying colonial assumptions. These models, while useful, may not fully encompass the multifaceted challenges of climate change or consider the diverse needs and voices of global populations.
Project Cybersyn, which used cybernetics and the thinking of Stafford Beer to enhance industrial management and worker participation, provides inspiration for envisioning a model that incorporates citizens' input into climate change scenario planning. This approach would democratise the process, allowing for a broader range of perspectives and knowledge systems to influence policy and decision-making. Such a model could leverage real-time data and participatory technologies to create a more inclusive and adaptive framework for addressing climate challenges.
The Centro de Previsión Meteorológica y Estudios Climáticos (CPTEC) from the Brazilian Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Espaciales (INPE) provides an example of a regional effort to model climate phenomena with significant societal impacts. By integrating local knowledge and scientific expertise, CPTEC demonstrates the value of combining diverse data sources and perspectives in climate modelling.
These initiatives of participatory data collection, community-based scenario development, and local adaptation strategies recognise the importance of grassroots knowledge in complementing scientific research and emphasise the need for models that are not only predictive but also reflective of the collective aspirations and concerns of global citizens.
Visualising Democratic Ecosocialism
In the face of global heating and increasing world complexity, leveraging technology for real-time data analysis is not just advantageous but essential. This goes beyond traditional uses of technology for problem-solving by positioning computers and networks as fundamental to comprehensively manage the planet's dynamics. Crucially, these technologies can serve as pivotal tools for visualising economic scenarios in a way that is accessible and democratic. They enable citizens to engage in the economic discourse, allowing them to grasp the intricacies of economic systems and their environmental impacts. By making complex economic data understandable and visually accessible, they also empower people with the knowledge of what is happening in real-time. This approach fosters a more informed populace that can participate actively in shaping a future that aligns with the principles of ecosocialism.
Visualising democratic ecosocialism through a kind of ‘Google Earth for the people’ approach epitomises this shift. Such platforms can transform access to information infrastructure, moving away from a centralised model—where a few entities like Amazon monopolise planning and decision-making based on data—to a more distributed and participatory framework. By employing design elements that communicate social functions, community values, and impacts on living standards, these visual tools can significantly influence our understanding and implementation of a sustainable and equitable economic model.
Socialising the Means of Feedback Production
The idea of socialising the means of feedback production extends the concept of democratising production to the realm of data. Just as the socialisation of the means of production is central to socialist thought, the socialisation of feedback mechanisms signifies a pivotal shift towards an inclusive, participatory approach in addressing data governance as well as climate change and environmental management.
This involves creating open, accessible platforms where the data generated by individuals and communities can inform collective decisions. By leveraging this real-time data, society can adapt more dynamically to evolving environmental conditions, enabling a more responsive and flexible approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Eric Kayne/AP Images for SumofUS
The socialisation of feedback production fosters a collaborative environment where decision-making is grounded in the collective intelligence and experience of the community. It represents a move towards a more equitable distribution of power and resources, ensuring that the voices and needs of all are considered in the journey towards sustainable and just futures. Through these mechanisms, technology becomes a cultural device, not only for envisioning but also for actualising non-capitalist ecosocialist scenarios, embodying the principles of democracy, sustainability, and social justice in the digital age.
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