• Home
  • About RSIS
    • Introduction
    • Building the Foundations
    • Welcome Message
    • Board of Governors
    • Staff Profiles
      • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
      • Dean’s Office
      • Management
      • Distinguished Fellows
      • Faculty and Research
      • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
      • Visiting Fellows
      • Adjunct Fellows
      • Administrative Staff
    • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
    • RSIS Endowment Fund
    • Endowed Professorships
    • Career Opportunities
    • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
    • Research Centres
      • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
      • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
      • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
      • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
      • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
    • Research Programmes
      • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
      • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
    • Research @ RSIS
    • Other Programmes
      • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP)
  • Graduate Education
    • Graduate Programmes Office
    • Overview
    • MSc (Asian Studies)
    • MSc (International Political Economy)
    • MSc (International Relations)
    • MSc (Strategic Studies)
    • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
    • PhD Programme
    • Exchange Partners and Programmes
    • How to Apply
    • Financial Assistance
    • Information Sessions
    • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
    • Alumni
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
    • SRP Executive Programme
    • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
    • RSIS Publications
      • Annual Reviews
      • Books
      • Bulletins and Newsletters
      • Commentaries
      • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
      • Commemorative / Event Reports
      • IDSS Paper
      • Interreligious Relations
      • Monographs
      • NTS Insight
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • RSIS Publications for the Year
    • Glossary of Abbreviations
    • External Publications
      • Authored Books
      • Journal Articles
      • Edited Books
      • Chapters in Edited Books
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • Op-Eds
      • External Publications for the Year
    • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Cohesive Societies
    • Great Powers
    • Sustainable Security
    • Other Resource Pages
    • Media Highlights
    • News Releases
    • Speeches
    • Vidcast Channel
    • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsis.sg
Linkedin
instagram instagram rsis.sg
RSS
  • Home
  • About RSIS
      • Introduction
      • Building the Foundations
      • Welcome Message
      • Board of Governors
      • Staff Profiles
        • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
        • Dean’s Office
        • Management
        • Distinguished Fellows
        • Faculty and Research
        • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
        • Visiting Fellows
        • Adjunct Fellows
        • Administrative Staff
      • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
      • RSIS Endowment Fund
      • Endowed Professorships
      • Career Opportunities
      • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
      • Research Centres
        • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
        • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
        • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
        • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
        • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      • Research Programmes
        • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
        • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      • Research @ RSIS
      • Other Programmes
        • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP)
  • Graduate Education
      • Graduate Programmes Office
      • Overview
      • MSc (Asian Studies)
      • MSc (International Political Economy)
      • MSc (International Relations)
      • MSc (Strategic Studies)
      • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
      • PhD Programme
      • Exchange Partners and Programmes
      • How to Apply
      • Financial Assistance
      • Information Sessions
      • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
      • Alumni
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
      • SRP Executive Programme
      • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
      • RSIS Publications
        • Annual Reviews
        • Books
        • Bulletins and Newsletters
        • Commentaries
        • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
        • Commemorative / Event Reports
        • IDSS Paper
        • Interreligious Relations
        • Monographs
        • NTS Insight
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • RSIS Publications for the Year
      • Glossary of Abbreviations
      • External Publications
        • Authored Books
        • Journal Articles
        • Edited Books
        • Chapters in Edited Books
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • Op-Eds
        • External Publications for the Year
      • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
      • COVID-19 Resources
      • Cohesive Societies
      • Great Powers
      • Sustainable Security
      • Other Resource Pages
      • Media Highlights
      • News Releases
      • Speeches
      • Vidcast Channel
      • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
  • instagram instagram rsis.sg
Connect

Getting to RSIS

Map

Address

Nanyang Technological University
Block S4, Level B3,
50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798

View location on Google maps Click here for directions to RSIS

Get in Touch

    Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
    RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
    instagram instagram rsis.sg
      RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    RSIS Intranet

    S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
    Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University

    Skip to content

     
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • NTS Bulletin November 2018
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • Commentaries
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • IDSS Paper
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers
    • RSIS Publications for the Year

    NTS Bulletin November 2018

    21 November 2018

    download pdf

    Behind increasingly technology-savvy societies: A concern for the environment

    By The Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
    S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS)
    Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore

    The pervasive use of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products in our daily life has led to what is now often referred to as the 4th Industrial Revolution. From internet and smart phones to blockchain technology and the Artificial Intelligence, the whole of society seems ready and eager to embrace the latest innovations in the ICT realm.

    The finance industry has begun to make use of this technology and ex-tend their services to schools and retailers through cashless payments. Governments are already switching their services to the online platform. At the regional level, countries in South-east Asia are making plans to build ICT-enabled smart cities as evidenced in their participation in the ASEAN Smart City Network. Indeed, in 2017 the PWC reported that the Internet of Things (IoT), drones and autonomous vehicles, blockchain, augmented and virtual reality, more sophisticated digital assistants, and artificial intelligence are dominating the progress made in the technological realm. In short, the ICT is set to lead major multi-sectoral and multi-level transformations within societies.

    Environment: A forgotten concern?

    Among the numerous benefits that the ICT advancements offer, concerns over breach of privacy and cyber crimes have widely circulated. Another aspect that engenders much debate is the psychological effects of the increasingly strong dependence on the ICT products and its impacts on inter-personal relationships. Much less attention, however, is given to the very aspect that is immediately affected by the proliferation of the ICT products, and that is the environment.

    Electronic products generate electronic waste (e-waste). An estimated 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste is generated across the globe every year, and they potentially pose disruptive impacts on the ecosystem due to the presence of toxic materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, beryllium, and zinc. While existing waste management practices may already be in place, the doubling up of e-waste generation by personal computers, cell phones, and televisions from 5.5 million tons in 2010 to 9.8 million tons in 2015 raises questions as to whether countries are adequately prepared to deal with the speed and volume of e-waste generated at present and in the future.

    Strong policy responses and coordination needed

    A United Nations University (UNU) report in 2016 showed varying policies and practices of e-waste management across Southeast Asia. Among other observations, two issues are worth highlighting. First, both formal and informal facilities are involved in e-waste

    treatment; however, the latter does not normally adhere to the best available techniques and the best environmental practices. Thus, potential hazards for human health and the environment could in-crease.

    Second, illegal exchanges of e-waste products among countries thrive due to a number of factors including different waste classification and enforcement capacities to clamp down illegal e-waste traffic.

    The stark gap between the exponential increase of the use of ICT and other electronic products and the capacity to deal with their end-of-life waste needs to be urgently addressed. Beyond security worries, governments and relevant

    stakeholders need to ensure that policies and mechanisms are adequate to safeguard their citizens from health and environmental risks brought about by e-waste. To this end, it is important for ASEAN to develop region-wide strategy to coordinate national policies on e-waste management.

    Categories: Bulletins and Newsletters /

    Last updated on 19/08/2020

    Behind increasingly technology-savvy societies: A concern for the environment

    By The Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
    S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS)
    Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore

    The pervasive use of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products in our daily life has led to what is now often referred to as the 4th Industrial Revolution. From internet and smart phones to blockchain technology and the Artificial Intelligence, the whole of society seems ready and eager to embrace the latest innovations in the ICT realm.

    The finance industry has begun to make use of this technology and ex-tend their services to schools and retailers through cashless payments. Governments are already switching their services to the online platform. At the regional level, countries in South-east Asia are making plans to build ICT-enabled smart cities as evidenced in their participation in the ASEAN Smart City Network. Indeed, in 2017 the PWC reported that the Internet of Things (IoT), drones and autonomous vehicles, blockchain, augmented and virtual reality, more sophisticated digital assistants, and artificial intelligence are dominating the progress made in the technological realm. In short, the ICT is set to lead major multi-sectoral and multi-level transformations within societies.

    Environment: A forgotten concern?

    Among the numerous benefits that the ICT advancements offer, concerns over breach of privacy and cyber crimes have widely circulated. Another aspect that engenders much debate is the psychological effects of the increasingly strong dependence on the ICT products and its impacts on inter-personal relationships. Much less attention, however, is given to the very aspect that is immediately affected by the proliferation of the ICT products, and that is the environment.

    Electronic products generate electronic waste (e-waste). An estimated 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste is generated across the globe every year, and they potentially pose disruptive impacts on the ecosystem due to the presence of toxic materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, beryllium, and zinc. While existing waste management practices may already be in place, the doubling up of e-waste generation by personal computers, cell phones, and televisions from 5.5 million tons in 2010 to 9.8 million tons in 2015 raises questions as to whether countries are adequately prepared to deal with the speed and volume of e-waste generated at present and in the future.

    Strong policy responses and coordination needed

    A United Nations University (UNU) report in 2016 showed varying policies and practices of e-waste management across Southeast Asia. Among other observations, two issues are worth highlighting. First, both formal and informal facilities are involved in e-waste

    treatment; however, the latter does not normally adhere to the best available techniques and the best environmental practices. Thus, potential hazards for human health and the environment could in-crease.

    Second, illegal exchanges of e-waste products among countries thrive due to a number of factors including different waste classification and enforcement capacities to clamp down illegal e-waste traffic.

    The stark gap between the exponential increase of the use of ICT and other electronic products and the capacity to deal with their end-of-life waste needs to be urgently addressed. Beyond security worries, governments and relevant

    stakeholders need to ensure that policies and mechanisms are adequate to safeguard their citizens from health and environmental risks brought about by e-waste. To this end, it is important for ASEAN to develop region-wide strategy to coordinate national policies on e-waste management.

    Categories: Bulletins and Newsletters

    Last updated on 19/08/2020

    Back to top

    Terms of Use | Privacy Statement
    Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
    This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
    OK
    Latest Book
    NTS Bulletin November 2018

    Behind increasingly technology-savvy societies: A concern for the environment

    By The Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre) ...
    more info