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Summary
The fourth in a series of discussions centered around Climate UX. The adverse effects of climate disproportionately affect the most vulnerable, but what does this mean in the context of UX? How does accessibility affect climate? What lessons can we draw from the accessibility movement to enhance our efforts in scaling climate action? Join our conversation to hear perspectives from those who have worked at this intersection. Panelists: Ned Gartside, Tzviya Siegman, Zoe Lopez-Latorre; Moderated by: Mike Gifford
Key Insights
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Accessibility and digital sustainability are deeply interconnected parts of equity and human rights.
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The Web Sustainability Guidelines provide a comprehensive framework akin to WCAG to address sustainable web design across UX, development, infrastructure, measurement, and business.
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Lightweight web pages benefit both accessibility (for users with poor connectivity) and reduce carbon footprint, but data size alone does not perfectly correlate with energy use or emissions.
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Video content, while data heavy, can be an efficient and inclusive communication tool for some users with disabilities.
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Offering users choices about resource intensity (e.g., image quality) mirrors accessibility approaches and empowers carbon shifting.
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Digital sustainability adoption requires aligning environmental goals with business outcomes, showing triple wins: better user experience, lower carbon impact, and improved conversion or revenue.
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Government leadership, such as the UK’s accessibility standards and digital sustainability efforts, can pioneer best practices that influence the private sector.
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There are tensions where digital solutions may not be preferable or acceptable for all users, illustrating the importance of understanding real user needs and social contexts.
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Training and competency in sustainability are lacking but growing, similar to early accessibility efforts, with more courses and resources emerging.
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Collective responsibility is essential, but clear maturity models and role definitions are needed to assign accountability and integrate sustainability effectively across organizations.
Notable Quotes
"Accessibility is a better sell than sustainability when pitching to government clients."
"We need to have a planet before we can have dignity."
"Sustainability is not just about the planet but about people and their needs as well."
"A more lightweight page often means better accessibility and less energy consumed."
"There is no direct correlation between data transfer size and energy consumption; device resources and network time matter more."
"Video is often the most efficient way to communicate inclusively, despite its data weight."
"We can offer users higher or lower carbon options, just as we offer accessibility choices."
"If sustainability is aligned with business impact, it stands a better chance of adoption."
"Many farmers prefer face-to-face interaction over digital solutions, showing digital isn’t always the answer."
"Digital sustainability efforts need the whole organization involved, not just engineering or ESG teams."
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