Modelling European Environmental Communication – Information Flows Supporting Decisions towards a Sustainable Development

Abstract

Environmental informatics merges environmental research with the application of latest technology. New issues and increasing specialization broaden the field of “Enviromatics” significantly. Especially environmental communication and education links computer applications for environmental protection to the public debate on sustainable development. To provide orientation in this emerging discipline, a conceptual model of communication on the basis of enviromatics is developed. Information sources in science, economy and society, the information diffusion and some effects of environmental information in controlling modernization and empowerment are presented. The background is built by leading edge technologies, as driving forces for communication. Finally the model is applied for structuring ENVIROINFO VIENNA and the conference proceedings, establishing the basis for a “Systems Conference on Environmental Informatics”.