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#1ed760: How green is Spotify? The importance of reporting for democratic and sustainable digitalisation

Fitzgerald, Francesca LU (2023) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20221
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Internet services can aid steps towards sustainability, but can also be a means of exploitation and power-ownership. Data centres are an intrinsic part of this system, but reporting regulations do not require full disclosure on them. This paper takes the position that incomplete or misleading reporting is a form of delay discourse. Using the case study of Spotify, a structured literature review was conducted, and Lamb et al’s delay discourse framework applied to analyse reporting. A discrepancy was found between actual and reported sustainability impacts, specifically for water use. Another delay discourse category was therefore suggested, ‘Doing our part’, the idea that an acknowledgment of climate change can hide other sustainability... (More)
Internet services can aid steps towards sustainability, but can also be a means of exploitation and power-ownership. Data centres are an intrinsic part of this system, but reporting regulations do not require full disclosure on them. This paper takes the position that incomplete or misleading reporting is a form of delay discourse. Using the case study of Spotify, a structured literature review was conducted, and Lamb et al’s delay discourse framework applied to analyse reporting. A discrepancy was found between actual and reported sustainability impacts, specifically for water use. Another delay discourse category was therefore suggested, ‘Doing our part’, the idea that an acknowledgment of climate change can hide other sustainability impacts. This paper suggests further investigation and regulation for sustainability reporting are necessary for a democratic future for digitalisation, especially relevant due to changes in reporting standards under development. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Fitzgerald, Francesca LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Sustainability Science, participatory democracy, delay discourse, climate change, data centres
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2023:002
language
English
id
9106478
date added to LUP
2023-01-12 13:48:08
date last changed
2023-01-12 13:48:08
@misc{9106478,
  abstract     = {{Internet services can aid steps towards sustainability, but can also be a means of exploitation and power-ownership. Data centres are an intrinsic part of this system, but reporting regulations do not require full disclosure on them. This paper takes the position that incomplete or misleading reporting is a form of delay discourse. Using the case study of Spotify, a structured literature review was conducted, and Lamb et al’s delay discourse framework applied to analyse reporting. A discrepancy was found between actual and reported sustainability impacts, specifically for water use. Another delay discourse category was therefore suggested, ‘Doing our part’, the idea that an acknowledgment of climate change can hide other sustainability impacts. This paper suggests further investigation and regulation for sustainability reporting are necessary for a democratic future for digitalisation, especially relevant due to changes in reporting standards under development.}},
  author       = {{Fitzgerald, Francesca}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{#1ed760: How green is Spotify? The importance of reporting for democratic and sustainable digitalisation}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}