Digital Rebound Effect

Rebound Effect does play a big role in the digital sector!

Example: Online Shopping

Solution2d Order EffectGHG EffectHigher Order Effect----+++Online shoppingserviceReducedcustomer travelCustomers havemore time foralternative activities(indirect rebound)Reducedemissions frompublic transportReducedemissions fromprivate transportIncreased homedeliveriesReduced demandfor retail space(macro-economicrebound)Consumerspurchase moregoods (directrebound)Reduced demandfor electricity andgasIncreased lifecycle & transportemissions frompurchased goodsIncreased returndeliveriesReduced emissionsfrom electricitygeneration, transportand distributionReduced emissionsfrom natural gasextraction, transport,distribution and useIncreasedemissions fromdelivery vehiclesIncreasedemissions fromhome energy use
Source: https://gauthierroussilhe.com/en/articles/nouvelles-perspectives-de-recherche

Studies

Widdicks, K., Lucivero, F., Samuel, G., Croxatto, L. S., Smith, M. T., Holter, C. T., Berners-Lee, M., Blair, G. S., Jirotka, M., Knowles, B., Sorrell, S., Rivera, M. B., Cook, C., Coroamă, V. C., Foxon, T. J., Hardy, J., Hilty, L. M., Hinterholzer, S., & Penzenstadler, B. (2023). Systems thinking and efficiency under emissions constraints: Addressing rebound effects in digital innovation and policy. Patterns, 4(2), 100679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patter.2023.100679

Bieser, J. C. T., Hintemann, R., Hilty, L. M., & Beucker, S. (2023). A review of assessments of the greenhouse gas footprint and abatement potential of information and communication technology. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 99, 107033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2022.107033

Lange, S., Santarius, T., Dencik, L., Diez, T., Ferreboeuf, H., Hankey, S., Hilbeck, A., Hilty, L. M., Höjer, M., Kleine, D., Pohl, J., Reisch, L. A., Ryghaug, M., Schwanen, T., & Staab, P. (2023). Digital Reset, Redirecting Technologies for the Deep Sustainability Transformation. Digitalization for Sustainability (D4S). https://doi.org/10.14512/9783987262463

Coroamă, V. C., & Mattern, F. (2019). Digital Rebound—Why Digitalization Will not Redeem us our Environmental Sins. ICT for Sustainability. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Digital-Rebound-Why-Digitalization-Will-not-Redeem-Coroam%C4%83-Mattern/2d1d7a5ef74fc4ad98a5066de6c1b03302dd58d9

Bieser, J. C. T., & Hilty, L. M. (2018). Assessing Indirect Environmental Effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT): A Systematic Literature Review. Sustainability, 10(8), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082662

Semmling, E., Peters, A., Marth, H., Kahlenborn, W., & de Haan, P. (2016). Rebound-Effekte: Wie können sie effektiv begrenzt werden? https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/376/publikationen/rebound-effekte_wie_koennen_sie_effektiv_begrenzt_werden_handbuch.pdf
→@Semmling.etal.2016.ReboundEffekteWieKoennen

Santarius, T., Walnum, H. J., & Aall, C. (2016). Introduction: Rebound Research in a Warming World. In T. Santarius, H. J. Walnum, & C. Aall (Eds.), Rethinking Climate and Energy Policies: New Perspectives on the Rebound Phenomenon (pp. 1–14). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-38807-6_1

Sorrell, S. (2015). Reducing energy demand: A review of issues, challenges and approaches. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 47, 74–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.03.002

Hilty, L. M., & Aebischer, B. (2015). ICT for Sustainability: An Emerging Research Field. In L. M. Hilty & B. Aebischer (Eds.), ICT Innovations for Sustainability (pp. 3–36). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09228-7_1
→@Hilty.Aebischer.2015.ICTSustainability

Hilty, L. M., Köhler, A., Von Schéele, F., Zah, R., & Ruddy, T. (2006). Rebound effects of progress in information technology. Poiesis & Praxis, 4(1), 19–38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10202-005-0011-2