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Digital Sustainability Trade-Offs: Public Perceptions of Mobile Radiation and Green Roofs
This paper explores how public perceptions influence the interplay between Digital Sustainability (DS), public health, and environmental policy, particularly regarding the effects of mobile radiation on green roofs. While green roofs are recognized for their ecological advantages, the impact of mobile radiation exposure, especially from 5G technology, has not been thoroughly examined in Information Systems (IS) research. Through a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) involving an urban sample from the French population, our findings indicate a significant preference for funding research focused on human health compared to plant health, with willingness to pay (WTP) estimates for human health nearly twice as high. Nonetheless, the considerable support for plant health research underscores the importance of addressing both human and environmental aspects in policy formulation. This study contributes to the growing DS dialogue by demonstrating how cognitive, emotional, and moral perceptions shape public backing for research on mobile radiation. These findings enhance our understanding of how public attitudes influence the adoption and regulation of green technologies in urban environments. Our research provides insights for IS researchers and policymakers, advocating for balanced funding approaches and the integration of cognitive, emotional, and ethical factors into policy frameworks to foster effective public engagement and regulatory policies.
The exposure of nonhuman living organisms to mobile communication emissions: A survey to establish European stakeholders’ policy option preferences
AbstractThere is an unprecedented exposure of living organisms to mobile communications radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF‐EMF) emissions. Guidelines on exposure thresholds to limit thermal effects from these emissions are restricted to humans. However, tissue heating can occur in all living organisms that are exposed. In addition, exposure at millimetric frequencies used by 5G may impact surface tissues and organs of plants and small‐size species. It is also expected that the addition of 5G to existing networks will intensify radiofrequency absorption by living organisms.A European Parliament report proposed policy options on the effects of RF‐EMF exposure of plants, animals, and other living organisms in the context of 5G: funding more research, implementing monitoring networks, accessing more information from operators on antennas and EMF emissions, and developing compliance studies when antennas are installed. However, there is no evidence on the preferences of relevant stakeholders regarding these policy options. This paper reports the findings of a survey of key European stakeholders’ policy option preferences based on the European Parliament's report. It reveals a broad consensus on funding more research on the effects of exposure of plants, animals, and other living organisms to EMFs. It also highlights the need for deliberation concerning the other policy options that could provide solutions for regulatory authorities, central administrations, the private sector, nongovernmental associations and advocates, and academics. Such deliberation would pave the way for effective solutions, focusing on long‐term output from funding research, and enabling short‐term socially and economically acceptable actions for all parties concerned.