Eco-Technologies and Digital Divides: Re-Envisioning Environmental Justice through Sustainable Infrastructure and Green Pedagogies
Author : Dr. Simi M and Dr. Bindu R L
Abstract :
Higher education in the digital era exists at the crossroads of technology, sustainability and justice. However, the twin phenomena of eco-technologies adoption and persistence of digital divides threaten to reinforce environmental injustice rather than mitigate it. The paper aims to present a Digital Eco-Justice Framework that interlinks three domains: sustainable digital infrastructure, such as energy-efficient computing and smart campuses; justice-oriented pedagogy, including green literacy and participatory learning; and equity in digital access that ensures traditionally marginalised students are not excluded. The framework builds on the recognition that digital equity forms the foundation necessary for sustainability in higher education and that bridging digital divides is fundamental for social justice in climate and environmental action. Furthermore, this model integrates studies on the digital transformation of higher education in the service of sustainable development, providing pathways for universities to transition from technologically intensive but unequal "digital futures" to inclusively climate-responsive education. The following key implications are outlined for institutional leadership, policy and educators: conducting digital-infrastructure audits through a green justice lens; designing curriculum that involves students in the process of learning, both in ecological literacy and digital fluency; and embedding participatory frameworks so that the contributions of marginalised communities underpin sustainable digital strategies. By reframing digital learning environments as sites of ecological and social transformation, the paper argues that higher education can play a critical role in re-envisioning environmental justice for the digital age. The paper considers how sustainable infrastructure, digital pedagogy and equity must co-exist if institutions are to achieve their potential as agents of transformative and inclusive digital futures.
Keywords :
Eco-Technologies, Digital Divides, Re-Envisioning, Environmental Justice, Sustainable Infrastructure, Green Pedagogies.
