This position paper was developed by Waag Futurelab in collaboration with partners from Critical Infrastructure Lab (University of Amsterdam), Willem de Kooning Academy (Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences), Greenhost and Zoönomisch Instituut for the Designing Regenerative Technologies project. The position paper offers a new perspective on sustainability and describes how Waag is implementing it.
Although technology is often seen as solution to the climate crisis, the reality is that technology is currently making the situation worse. All devices depend on natural resources such as water, electricity and metals. This means that there is no such thing as 100% sustainable technology.
In order to restore ecosystems and remain within the limits of the planet, a change is needed in how we design and use technology. Waag advocates the design of regenerative technology: technology that is designed from a systemic perspective and takes the planet, people and other life as its starting point.
In this article, Waag assesses what is currently happening in the field of sustainability and technology, what change is needed to restore the planet, and what actions Waag is taking in the Designing Regenerative Technologies project.
