Policy & Cooperation Germany Making a difference together | Electronics
picture on top: Bits und Bäume Conference 2018 - Opening by Tilman Santarius | CC BY Santiago Engelhardt
Under the guiding question, “What can digitalisation contribute to the sustainable transformation of society?”, the junior research group, in cooperation with a broad alliance of actors from civil society and academia, held a public networking conference at Technische Universität Berlin in 2018. This was the starting point of the Bits & Bäume (Bits & Trees) movement. Since then, various actors in the alliance have addressed topics such as alternative economies, data and the environment, the material basis of digitalisation, digital capitalism, urban-rural-smart as well as civil society and communities.
Since 2018, Forum Bits & Bäume continues to offer an open discussion space in order to put greater emphasis on the sustainable design of digitalisation, and to introduce scientific and civil society topics and demands into the political discourse. The events are held in dialogue formats with active workshop elements in order to develop precise policy proposals and design options, and to prepare them for public and political discussion. The Forum Bits & Bäume is organised by the scientific research group “Digitalisation and Social-Ecological Transformation” of IÖW and TU Berlin, in cooperation with the Einstein Center Digital Future and other partners. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) via its Social-Ecological Research (SÖF) funding focus.
What is the mission of the project in a sentence?
Strengthening the public debate on digitalisation and sustainability, while connecting communities that are engaged in environmental and climate policy debates as well as digital policy issues.
Where and when did the project start?
The first public networking conference was held on 17 and 18 November, 2018 at TU Berlin, Germany. This fruitful event marked the start of the Bits & Bäume movement.
Where is the project offered today?
Germany.
To whom is this project aimed? Who belongs to your target group?
To digital-political, political, ecological and sustainability actors, development cooperation actors, and the interested audience.
picture: Bits & Bäume Conference 2018 - Session "Let Nature Rule" with Kerstin Fritzsche, Kai Andreas Ingólfsson,
Dr Thomas Müller and Alberto Jimenez Mendoza | CC BY-SantiagoEngelhardt
What do you consider to be the most innovative aspects of your offer?
As the digital sector is predicted to continue to grow at a high rate, its impact on environmental protection, sustainability and resource trading will also increase. And, as we have known since the US elections in 2016 and the Brexit referendum at the latest, the influence on political and legal systems is also growing through companies such as Facebook and Cambridge Analytica. Saving the world will therefore hardly be possible without including the digital technology factor. This is why the sustainability movement and the technology scene came together for Bits & Bäume – to think of digitalisation and sustainability together, to link communities and explore common courses of action.
What are the most important impacts of your service in terms of sustainability?
The movement bundles different (literally 10) perspectives and, in this way, builds a jointly developed framework. The aim is to design digitisation in such a way that it serves the common good and peace, takes data protection seriously and promotes social and ecological goals equally. To achieve this, Bits & Bäume has created 11 demands (listed on the website) that address these different levels.
Which aspects are particularly interesting from a design perspective?
Design plays a central role when it comes to creating sustainable digitalisation. Bits & Bäume has therefore formulated specific demands on political actors in order to develop work plans similar to the EU guidelines for ecodesign.
picture: Bits & Bäume Conference 2018 - Forum | CC BY Santiago Engelhardt
Do you also offer the service digitally?
In addition to past events that have taken place physically, the community is largely networking digitally (forums, newsletter, etc.).
What are some interesting numbers about the project?
550 people and organisations have so far signed the Bits & Bäume demands. There were more than 2,000 participants and over 130 panels at the first conference in 2018. 11 organisations jointly organised and planned the conference.
Four reasons to link these two communities to the sustainability and the tech movement:
1 - Securing human rights
2 - Respecting the boundaries of our planet
3 - Overcoming capitalism
4 - Acting stronger united
What happens next? What are your goals?
Autumn 2020:
Under the heading "How many bits does the energy revolution need? Design options for an intelligent, future-proof and sustainable energy system", the 5th online forum was held on 2 November, 2020.
A 6th Forum Bits & Bäume is planned for 2021.