Digital Sustainability: Legislations, Standards, Solutions and Related Case Studies

This book investigates strategies for integrating sustainability objectives into the design and operation of Digital Systems. Instead of providing a pure academic introduction, the book will take a hands-on approach facilitating an understanding of practical implications of the European Green Deal and specific needs to be fulfilled by commercial products to maintain continued access to the European Union Single Market. Building upon the European Union's Green Deal, which prioritizes sustainable development, we explore a range of relevant concepts and initiatives. We begin by examining how high-level political aspirations translate into concrete actions, focusing on regulations such as Ecodesign legislation that influence market access and drive the development of sustainable technologies. We then delve into the technical aspects of sustainable digital systems, including considerations for Digital Architecture, the interplay between Cybersecurity and Sustainability, and the ethical dimensions of sustainable digital development. Furthermore, we explore real-world applications through case studies and expert interviews, examining how various sectors and stakeholders are adapting their practices to meet sustainability goals. This includes an in-depth analysis of emerging technologies such as 6th Generation Cellular Networks, AI for Wireless Communications, and the Internet of Things, with a focus on their potential to contribute to sustainable development. Finally, we compare the European approach with sustainability initiatives in other regions, identifying best practices and areas for further collaboration.

Dr. Christophe Gaie earned his PhD in Telecommunications from Université Paris Sud – Saclay in 2010, following a research collaboration between Motorola and Supélec. He also holds a double degree in Engineering and a Master of Research from INP Bordeaux - Université Bordeaux, obtained in 2006. Currently, he serves as the Head of the Engineering and Digital Innovation Division at the Prime Minister's Office. Previously, he led the digital applications office at the Centre interministériel de services informatiques relatifs aux ressources humaines (CISIRH) and managed the interministerial exchange platform at the Direction Interministérielle du Numérique (DINUM). With over a decade of experience at the Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP), he initially worked as an IT architect and later headed the Income Tax and Withholding Tax team. His main research interests include e-Government, Standardization, Sustainability, modernization of Information and Telecommunication Systems, API development and usage, Artificial Intelligence, and fraud detection.

Dr. Markus Mueck received the Dipl.-Ing. and ing. dipl. degrees from the University of Stuttgart, Germany and the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications (ENST), Paris, France respectively in 1999. In 2006, he received the Doctorate degree of ENST in Communications. From 1999 to 2008, Dr. Mueck was Senior Staff member and Technical Manager at Motorola Labs, Paris, France. In this role, he contributed actively to various standardization bodies, namely Digital Radio Mondiale, IEEE 802.11n, etc. and lead the creation of the novel standardization group IEEE P1900.4 in the area of Cognitive Radio and Software Defined Radio (SDR). He contributed to numerous European Research projects, namely as Technical  Manager of IST-E2R II (19 MEuros budget) and as overall technical leader for the definition of IST-E3 (20 MEuros budget). In 2008, Dr. Mueck joined Infineon Technologies, Munich, Germany where he was head of delegation for IEEE 802.16m and transitioned to Intel Mobile Communications in 2011 in the framework of an acquisition by Intel. Currently, Dr. Mueck is a Principal Engineer with Intel Deutschland GmbH, Munich, Germany and an Engineering Director; he acts as Chair of the ETSI Board, he is Chair of ETSI OCG AI coordinating the overall effort of the organization on AI and Adj. Professor of University of Technology, Sydney, Australia. He is deeply involved in coordinating the implementation of EU Policy priorities through standards activities in ETSI. Dr. Mueck was leading the effort on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning of the European funded research Flagship Project Hexa-X preparing the design of 6th Generation Mobile Networks (6G). Dr. Mueck has published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific conference and journal papers, acts as TPC member of numerous conferences and has been regularly involved as reviewer for the evaluation of European Research projects since the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission.