Ensuring the environmental sustainability of emerging technologies

This report assumes that something can be done to guide technology developers and others towards producing technology that does not cause indirect and delayed damage to the environment. It explores the extent to which environmental sustainability concerns are taken into account and what can be done in five distinct technology domains: chemicals and advanced materials, synthetic biology, digital technologies, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and sequestration, and space technologies. It also describes the current attitude and instruments available or being considered to reach the goal of environmental sustainability. Thus, it suggests ways to address ex-ante environmental concerns that might manifest only after design choices for technology are already made.