Consuming distance or (all) consuming work? The case of telework
Date
2014Author
Hynes, Michael
Metadata
Show full item recordUsage
This item's downloads: 368 (view details)
Recommended Citation
Hynes, M (2014) 'Consuming Distance or (all) Consuming Work? The case of telework' Part 2, Chapter 5, In: Anna R. Davies, Frances Fahy, Henrike Rau(Eds.). Challenging Consumption: pathways to a more sustainable future. London : Routledge.
Published Version
Abstract
The reality of
anthropogenic climate change and the consequences for society and environment
is of growing concern to many worldwide. Sustainable Development - development
which addresses existing human needs while preserving sufficient resources for
future generations to meet their requirements has emerged as a fundamental
aspiration in efforts to reconcile the desire for economic growth and greater
social justice with the need for environmental protection. Ecological
Modernisation approaches that advocate a greening of current economic and
social systems through technological innovation have tended to dominate
Sustainable Development debates. Technology is frequently perceived in
(over)optimistic terms, with little evidence of measures to restrict growth-centric
models of production and consumption.
Work takes up a
considerable portion of people s lives whilst travelling to and from work has
become a key feature of everyday mobility. A significant contributor to
Greenhouse Gas emissions, the transportation of people and goods in its current
form is deemed unsustainable. Teleworking has been suggested as a virtual
mobility option which potentially can diminish the overall consumption of
distance associated with regular commuting. Given its emphasis on the
application of technology to solve environmental problems, telework constitutes
a prime example of an unsophisticated Ecological Modernisation policy approach.
Despite the prominence of Ecological Modernisation rhetoric in environmental
policy-making, rigorous theoretical and empirical testing of its key
assumptions remains incomplete. This paper draws on a multi-method exploration
of telework in Ireland to reveal current interpretations of Ecological
Modernisation remain shallow and largely limited to technological fix
solutions, contributing little to curbing the consumerist impulses of
contemporary economic models and lifestyles. The environmental benefits
associated with telework are also questioned. Furthermore, any environmental
sustainability gains attributed to telework frequently occur at the expense of
individuals who work from home, their families and society, thereby bringing
the three key pillars of sustainability into conflict.