Bits & Bäume – The Movement for Digitalisation and Sustainability

setting line Policy & Cooperation    map search Germany    tags line Making a difference together | Electronics

computer monitor Go To Website


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.


BEPCO image06

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.


BuB2018 052 CCBY SantiagoEngelhardt Forum

 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.

 

Bits Bume Poster 2018 CC BY Schauschau wwwschauschaucc 

 

 

 

  • Service | Estonia
    Bepco

    Bepco

    Circular transport packaging systems.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Germany
    Bits & Bäume

    Bits & Bäume

    The Movement for Digitalisation and Sustainability.
  • Service | Russia
    Bushe

    Bushe

    The eco-conscious chain of bakeries and pastry shops.
  • Service | Poland
    Chełpliwe Pudeła

    Chełpliwe Pudeła

    Vegan food delivery in reusable containers and bags.
  • Service | Germany
    circular.fashion

    circular.fashion

    A digital platform to ensure circularity in every step.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Finland
    CitiCAP

    CitiCAP

    Personal carbon trading on mobility.
  • Product | Germany
    Coboc

    Coboc

    Making pedelecs lighter and more attractive.
  • Product | Germany
    Engel Sports

    Engel Sports

    Functional sportswear that is sustainable in the value chain and in its entire life cycle.
  • Concept | Germany
    Everwave

    Everwave

    Floating platform that filters plastic and plastic particles from the water.
  • Service | International
    Fairbnb.coop

    Fairbnb.coop

    Community powered tourism.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Finland
    Finnish Roadmap to a Circular Economy 2016-2025

    Finnish Roadmap to a Circular Economy 2016-2025

    Leading the cycle.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Poland
    Gdynia Cargo Bikes

    Gdynia Cargo Bikes

    Cargo bikes are changing cities.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Germany
    German Ecodesign Award

    German Ecodesign Award

    Germany’s highest state award for ecological design.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Estonia
    Green Tiger

    Green Tiger

    The tiger leap to green economy.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Sweden
    Gröna Listan

    Gröna Listan

    The Green List for public procurement.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Sweden
    Händelö Eco-Industrial Park

    Händelö Eco-Industrial Park

    World-leading industrial symbiosis between industry and city through bio-based and circular economy.
  • Service | Germany
    kaputt.de

    kaputt.de

    Platform for repair solutions of electrical devices.
  • Service | Sweden
    Karma

    Karma

    Saving the world should be effortless. Save food with a tap of a button.
  • Service | Finland
    Lindström

    Lindström

    Caring about maintenance - a sustainable rental service for textiles.
  • Service | Sweden
    MoveByBike

    MoveByBike

    100% bike logistics.
  • Service | Norway
    Nimber

    Nimber

    Going your way, anyway.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Germany
    Nochmall

    Nochmall

    Getting Berliners excited about waste avoidance, reuse and upcycling.
  • Service | Russia
    Paketa net

    Paketa net

    Reducing the end-user’s ecological footprint.
  • Service | Russia
    Pokupay pravilno

    Pokupay pravilno

    The best packaging is none.
  • Policy & Cooperation | International
    PROMPT

    PROMPT

    An independent testing programme to support the assessment of the longevity of consumer products.
  • Service | Switzerland
    Pumpipumpe

    Pumpipumpe

    Sharing of everyday objects in the often anonymous urban neighbourhoods.
  • Product | Germany
    Pyua

    Pyua

    Functional outwear that is made of 100 percent recycled materials and can be reused.
  • Concept | Germany
    Radbahn

    Radbahn

    Building the first roofed cycle path along the U1 underground line in Berlin.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Poland
    Recycling Machines Warsaw

    Recycling Machines Warsaw

    Devices for selective waste collection that motivate inhabitants to change their habits and behaviour.
  • Service | Sweden
    Retuna

    Retuna

    The world’s first recycling mall.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Sweden
    Smarta Kartan

    Smarta Kartan

    Mapping of initiatives that promotes access over ownership.
  • Service | Germany
    Solarkiosk

    Solarkiosk

    E-Hubs as a promise for the future.
  • Service | Germany
    sonnenCommunity

    sonnenCommunity

    Households as the new centre of a clean energy system.
  • Policy & Cooperation | International
    SUSTAINORDIC

    SUSTAINORDIC

    A platform and network that aims to promote sustainable consumption and production (SDG12) based on a Nordic perspective.
  • Service | the Netherlands
    Swapfiets

    Swapfiets

    Bicycle as a service.
  • Service | Poland
    Swapp!

    Swapp!

    Fast moving consumer goods in closed loop system based on refilling stations.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Russia
    The Regions Sustainable Development Award

    The Regions Sustainable Development Award

    Help businesses gain financial support in regions of Russia.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Finland
    Think sustainably

    Think sustainably

    Make sustainable choices in Helsinki.
  • Service | Denmark
    Too Good To Go

    Too Good To Go

    An app to buy leftover food.
  • Service | Poland
    UrCup

    UrCup

    Reusable cups, plates, cutlery and mugs for caterers and event organisers.
  • Policy & Cooperation | Austria
    Vienna Repair Voucher

    Vienna Repair Voucher

    The Vienna Repair Voucher motivates people to give their products a second life.
  • Service | Austria
    wastebox.biz

    wastebox.biz

    Optimised and simplified construction site disposal
  • Service | Finland
    Whim

    Whim

    Mobility as a service.
  • Policy & Cooperation | UK
    Zero Waste Scotland

    Zero Waste Scotland

    Use products and resources responsibly.