Digital Society terms in HL extension: challenges and interventions

An evaluation criterion that asks whether the people and communities affected by an intervention see it as acceptable, including whether it is accountable and transparent to them.

The ability of people to obtain the health services and medicines they need, when they need them, without barriers of distance, cost, discrimination or poor quality.

A population in which the share of older people, usually those aged 65 and over, is rising because of longer life expectancy and lower birth rates.

Scheduling computing work for times and places where the electricity supply has lower carbon emissions, so that the same work causes fewer emissions.

A pressing, complex issue with far-reaching impacts and implications for large numbers of people. Challenges are widespread and persistent, often cross national borders and generations, and are intertwined with digital systems.

Digital tools and platforms designed to improve the relationship between citizens and government, for example by publishing public information, collecting petitions, enabling consultation or tracking how promises are kept.

Organised armed violence within a single state, between the government and one or more non-state groups or between such groups, often linked to disputes over power, territory, identity or resources.

Actions that reduce the harm caused by climate change that is already happening or expected, such as flood defences, heat-resistant crops and early warning systems.

Long-term change in average temperatures and weather patterns; the current warming is caused mainly by human emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, farming and deforestation.

Actions that reduce the causes of climate change, by cutting greenhouse gas emissions or increasing the removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Negotiation between an employer and an organisation representing workers, such as a trade union, to agree pay, working conditions and other terms for all the workers covered.

An evaluation criterion that weighs the financial, social, cultural and environmental costs of an intervention against its benefits, and asks for whom the costs fall.

Collecting reports about a crisis, often from the public by text message, social media or apps, and placing them on a live digital map so that responders, journalists and communities can see where help or attention is needed.

Work that is productive and pays a fair income, with security in the workplace, social protection, freedom to organise and be heard, and equal treatment, as defined by the International Labour Organization.

A form of democracy in which decisions are shaped by informed, reasoned discussion among citizens and their representatives, aiming at shared understanding or consensus, in addition to voting.

Changes that electricity customers make to when or how much they use power, in response to prices, payments or signals from the grid operator, so that demand better matches available supply.

Ensuring that all people and communities, including those disadvantaged by disability, poverty, age, location or language, have affordable access to digital systems, the skills to use them and services designed for them.

A digital record linked to a physical product, often through a QR code, that stores information about its materials, origin, environmental footprint, repair and recycling, so that consumers, repairers and recyclers can use it.

Human rights as they apply to the use of digital systems, such as privacy, free expression and non-discrimination online, together with related claims such as access to the internet and control over personal data.

Treating a person or group less favourably than others because of a characteristic such as sex, race, ethnicity, disability, religion or age. It can be direct (an explicit rule) or indirect (a rule that looks neutral but disadvantages one group in practice).

A new approach, often simpler or cheaper at first, that reaches people ignored by existing providers and eventually changes how a whole field works, such as mobile money for people without bank accounts.

The arrangement of a society into layers of people with unequal income, wealth and opportunities, in which people's position tends to persist over their lives and across generations.

A type of intervention that strengthens positive or effective aspects of a situation that already exist, such as a service that makes sending remittances cheaper.

An evaluation criterion that asks whether an intervention fairly addresses the needs, claims and interests of the specific people and communities affected, considering fairness, inclusion and reciprocity.

An evaluation criterion that asks whether an intervention is technically, socially and politically possible to carry out and sustain, and what current or emerging barriers stand in its way.

The condition of not having reliable access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and an active, healthy life, whether because food is unavailable or because people cannot afford it.

The ways in which technological, economic and social change, especially automation, artificial intelligence and digital platforms, are transforming what jobs exist, how work is organised, and the security and quality of employment.

The state in which people of all genders have equal rights, responsibilities, opportunities and treatment, so that a person's gender does not limit their life chances.

The processes, rules and institutions through which decisions are made and authority is exercised over a community, including the roles of governments, companies, international organisations and civil society.

Releases of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that trap heat in the atmosphere; they are usually measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) so that different gases can be compared.

Making misleading or unsupported claims about the environmental benefits of a product, service or organisation, so that it appears more sustainable than it is.

Rights that every person holds because they are human, whatever their nationality, sex, ethnicity, religion or other status. They are universal, inalienable and indivisible, and states have the main duty to protect them.

A small improvement to an existing product, service or process, such as adding SMS reminders to an existing vaccination programme.

The uneven distribution of income, wealth, opportunities or outcomes, such as health or education, between individuals, groups or countries.

An evaluation criterion that asks whether an intervention's approach is new or has been tried before without success, and whether it is an incremental, sustaining or disruptive innovation.

A type of intervention that steps into a process or trend contributing to the negative aspects of a challenge and changes it, such as a law that changes how platforms classify their workers.

An innovation that attempts to mitigate, intercede in, enhance or resolve an aspect of a challenge and involves digital systems in some way. It can be a device, app or platform, but also a policy, law or rule change that concerns digital systems.

A method for measuring the environmental impacts of a product or service across every stage of its life, from extracting raw materials through manufacturing, transport and use to disposal or recycling.

The movement of people from one place to another, within a country or across borders, to live there temporarily or permanently, whether by choice or because they are forced to leave.

A type of intervention that reduces the negative aspects of a challenge, usually without removing their cause, such as cash aid for families who cannot afford food.

Designing a product as a set of separate, standardised parts (modules) that can be removed, replaced or upgraded individually, so that a fault in one part does not end the life of the whole product.

The protection of a state, its population, institutions and critical infrastructure from threats such as military attack, terrorism, espionage and cyberattacks.

Information gathered and analysed from publicly available sources, such as social media posts, satellite imagery, flight-tracking data and public records, to establish facts about events.

The 2015 international climate treaty under which countries set their own emissions targets (nationally determined contributions), report on progress and review collective progress every five years, with the aim of keeping global warming well below 2 °C.

The activities through which citizens take part in or influence government and public decisions, such as voting, standing for office, petitioning, protesting and responding to consultations.

Activities that aim to prevent violent conflict, end it or stop it from returning, by addressing its causes, rebuilding trust between groups and strengthening institutions that settle disputes peacefully.

A digital platform, such as a delivery or ride-hailing app, that is owned and governed democratically by its workers or users rather than by investors.

Expression about government, politics, elections and public issues, including criticism of officials and policies. It is protected by Article 19 of the UDHR and receives especially strong protection in many legal systems.

Measuring and recording the amount, type and location of pollutants or waste over time, for example with sensors, satellites or reporting systems, so that sources can be identified and action taken.

The change in the size of a population over time, resulting from the balance of births and deaths and of people moving in and out.

The situation in which efficiency gains from a technology are partly or fully cancelled out because the lower cost or greater convenience leads people to use more of it.

A person who has fled their country because of a well-founded fear of persecution, conflict or serious violence, and who is protected under international law from being sent back to danger.

Money or goods sent by a migrant worker to family or others in their country of origin, usually in small, regular amounts.

A type of intervention that removes a negative aspect of a challenge. Few interventions resolve a whole challenge, but some resolve one specific aspect of it.

Using goods, services and resources in ways that meet people's needs while reducing waste, pollution and the use of raw materials across a product's life; the aim of SDG 12.

Physical systems used in common by many people and organisations, such as electricity grids, transport networks, water supply and public buildings, whose capacity is limited and costly to expand.

An electricity network that uses sensors, smart meters, two-way communication and software to monitor and balance supply and demand in real time, making it easier to integrate renewable energy and use existing capacity efficiently.

Specific, justified recommendations for how an intervention, or the response to a challenge, should change in the future, based on its evaluation against the relevant criteria.

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs; it balances economic, social and environmental goals.

17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015, with targets for 2030, that cover poverty, health, education, inequality, climate, consumption, cities and ecosystems.

A significant improvement that helps existing organisations serve their current users better without changing who leads the field, such as a bank moving its customers to mobile banking.

Respect for, acceptance of and appreciation of the diversity of cultures, religions, beliefs and ways of life, combined with recognising others' rights to hold views different from one's own.

A regular cash payment given to every individual in a community or country, without conditions or a means test, intended to provide a basic level of income security.

A declaration of 30 articles adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948 that sets out the basic rights and freedoms of all people. It is the reference point for later human rights treaties and for debates about rights in digital society.

Measures taken before a product, material or substance becomes waste, such as designing products to last longer, reusing them or avoiding surplus production, so that waste is never created.

Lowering the quantity or harmfulness of waste that is generated, for example through recycling, composting, charging by weight or treating hazardous substances.

The overall quality of a person's or a community's life, including material conditions such as income, food, housing and health, and less tangible ones such as security, dignity, social connection and the ability to make choices.

A large share of children and young adults in a population, typically caused by high birth rates combined with falling child mortality.