In recent years, discussions about the environmental impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have largely revolved around hardware — data centers, electronic waste, and energy consumption. However, an equally important factor has been overlooked: the software development methodologies themselves.
When I read the UNCTAD “Digital Economy Report 2024”, I was struck by the complete absence of any mention of how programming methodologies impact sustainability. There was no discussion of whether developers use algorithm-centric or code-centric methodologies when creating software, nor how these choices affect the environment.
This realization led me to introduce the concept of Eco-Methodological Sustainability — a new approach that highlights the role of structured software development methodologies in shaping an environmentally sustainable future for the digital economy.