Digital sustainability strategies: digitally enabled and digital-first innovation for net zero
Author(s)
Falcke, Lukas
Zobel, Ann-Kristin
Yoo, Youngjin
Tucci, Christopher
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
While we live in times of pervasive digital transformation, the world faces a physical challenge: climate change. Addressing it requires the global economy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. “Net zero” describes a state in which, globally, the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount of emissions removed. As some sectors and firms are more difficult to decarbonize, net-zero pathways indicate that others must move beyond net zero and adopt a regenerative approach. Although carbon emissions are inherently physical, digital innovation might be the key to accelerating progress on net zero, given its potential to measure, coordinate, and change the emissions logic of the current economy. This paper aims to construct a novel perspective on digital sustainability by exploring how digitally enabled and digital-first innovation can contribute to net zero. We develop a framework of four complementary digital net-zero strategies by synthesizing insights from prior literature with empirical illustrations. The framework serves as a starting point for future research and provides practical guidance for net-zero strategizing. It challenges digital sustainability research and practice to complement emissions reduction efforts with removal and regeneration and to explore both digitally enabled and digital-first innovation for net zero.
Date Issued
2026-05-01
Date Acceptance
2024-03-01
Citation
The Academy of Management Perspectives, 2026, 40 (2), pp.1-45
ISSN
1079-5545
Publisher
Academy of Management
Start Page
1
End Page
45
Journal / Book Title
The Academy of Management Perspectives
Volume
40
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© Academy of Management Perspectives. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Subjects
Business
Business & Economics
CORPORATE SOCIAL-RESPONSIBILITY
GRAND CHALLENGES
GREEN
INFORMATION-SYSTEMS
Management
MANAGEMENT
MODEL
RISE
Social Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2024-03-18