5.3 Sustainable development Questionbank

PRE-RELEASED STATEMENT

This pre-released statement supports planning for an extended inquiry into a sustainable development challenge involving mobility systems and digitally mediated decisions. Road congestion increases greenhouse gas emissions, local air pollution, and time lost in traffic.

Cities often respond through infrastructure expansion, pricing, and investment in public transport, but each approach distributes benefits and burdens differently. Electrification of buses can reduce tailpipe emissions, yet climate benefits depend on electricity generation, vehicle lifecycle impacts, and the degree to which public transport replaces private car trips.

Digital technologies increasingly shape transport through real-time routing, predictive scheduling, automated driving systems, and integrated ticketing. These systems can improve reliability and frequency, but they also raise questions about safety assurance, decision-making transparency, and who is prioritized when trade-offs are made (for example, peak commuters vs shift workers; central business districts vs peripheral neighborhoods).

Employment impacts are also significant: automation may change roles for drivers and maintenance staff, and can provoke concerns about deskilling, job loss, and accountability when incidents occur.

You may wish to explore: what equitable access means (coverage, affordability, physical accessibility, reliability), how trust is built through governance and community engagement, and how to evaluate transport interventions beyond ridership alone (wait times, missed connections, safety incidents, emissions, and social inclusion).

Paper 3 will include stimulus material about an unseen intervention involving a redesigned public transport network that uses digital systems to operate electric vehicles and manage service patterns. The stimulus will present operational details, a visual representation of routes and service frequency, and perspectives from groups affected by workforce and accessibility changes. Use this pre-release to prepare inquiries into fairness of access, legitimacy, safety governance, and transitions for workers and communities.

Source 1: Text description of an autonomous electric bus network intervention

A mid-sized city launches an autonomous electric bus (AEB) network on six core corridors. Vehicles operate with onboard perception systems (cameras, radar, lidar) and geofenced routes. A remote operations center can slow/stop buses and dispatch assistance. Safety controls include low-speed limits in school zones, mandatory stops at “uncertain object” detections, and a policy that buses must switch to manual “attended mode” during severe weather (with a staff member onboard).

• Routing and service: headways vary by corridor; the city plans more frequent service on high-demand routes and reduced frequency on lower-ridership routes.
• Service access: fares are integrated with existing transit cards and a mobile ticketing app; cash fares are reduced.
• Equity implications noted by the city: peripheral areas have fewer charging depots, and the first deployment prioritizes corridors near depots to reduce downtime.
• Data use: anonymized ridership counts and stop dwell time are used to adjust scheduling monthly; incident footage is stored for 30 days unless flagged.

Source 2: Short excerpt from affected-group perspective

Drivers’ union: “Electrification is welcome, but autonomy without a clear jobs plan undermines livelihoods and safety accountability. Remote monitoring is not the same as trained operators on board.” Disability advocate: “Reliability matters, but so do accessible stops, consistent announcements, and a way to contest service changes that reduce coverage for people who cannot drive.”

The Impact of Cloud Networks on Data Accessibility

Cloud networks allow for data storage and access over the internet, making data accessible from anywhere. This accessibility supports remote work, file sharing, and collaboration but also raises concerns about data security and control over personal information.

PRE-RELEASED STATEMENT

Traceable ethics: responsibility in global supply chains This pre-released statement supports planning for an extended inquiry into a contemporary sustainability challenge and the role that digital systems can play in shaping decisions, accountability and outcomes.

Many products marketed as “ethical” or “responsibly sourced” rely on complex, multi-tier supply chains that cross borders and legal systems. Materials and components can pass through numerous intermediaries, subcontractors and processing sites, making it difficult to verify working conditions, environmental practices, and wage/payment compliance.

At the same time, buyers and regulators increasingly expect evidence of due diligence, while investors and consumers seek assurance that claims are credible. Digital traceability tools can increase visibility by recording transactions, audits, certifications and logistical events.

However, the reliability of any record depends on what is measured, who is empowered to report problems, and whether incentives align with genuine remediation rather than “box-ticking”.

Where suppliers bear costs of compliance without experiencing improvements (e.g. better pay, safer conditions, stable contracts), participation can become coerced rather than collaborative. Additionally, over-collection of operational data may expose small suppliers to competitive harm or retaliation, especially if disputes are handled by powerful buyers.

Stakeholders can include: workers and their representatives, smallholder suppliers, factory managers, brand compliance teams, third-party auditors, logistics firms, certification bodies, regulators, and consumers. You may wish to explore how ethical assurance is constructed (standards, audits, worker voice, grievance mechanisms), and how power shapes what counts as “proof”.

Source 1: Text description of a blockchain traceability system for supply chain ethics

A multinational apparel brand pilots a permissioned blockchain to track cotton-to-garment production. “Verification checkpoints” are created at: farm/co-op, ginning mill, spinning mill, dyeing/finishing, cut-and-sew factory, and distribution warehouse. At each checkpoint, an authorized actor can upload: shipment ID, batch/lot numbers, location, date/time, relevant certificates, and a short “labour and safety attestation”.

• Who can write data: approved suppliers, contracted auditors, and the brand’s compliance team. Workers cannot directly write to the ledger.
• Who can read data: the brand and auditors see full records; consumers see a simplified “product story” via QR code; regulators can be granted access on request.
• Verification approach: auditors can attach an audit result and flag “critical findings”. The system shows a confidence score that increases when multiple independent entries corroborate a checkpoint.
• Dispute handling: suppliers can open a dispute ticket if they believe an audit is inaccurate; the brand’s compliance team selects a mediator from an approved list. If a dispute is unresolved within 30 days, the checkpoint remains visible but marked “contested”.
• Remediation link: if “critical findings” occur, the checkpoint requires a remediation plan upload before the next shipment is approved.

Source 2: Short NGO/worker-organization critique (excerpt)

“Traceability does not equal accountability. If workers cannot safely report violations, a ‘verified’ record can simply reflect what management and auditors choose to record. When brands control dispute resolution, the system risks becoming a compliance shield. Ethical supply chains require enforceable improvements, such as wages, safety, and freedom of association, and not only better data.”

Source A: Types of Computing Networks and Their Applications

Computing networks enable connectivity across different scales and purposes, from Local Area Networks (LANs) within buildings to Wide Area Networks (WANs) spanning cities. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) enhance security, while Client-Server and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) architectures support various communication methods.

For instance, a VPN can secure remote employee access to a company’s intranet, and LANs connect devices within a corporate office to share resources efficiently.

Source B: Essential Components of Computing Networks

The effectiveness of networks depends on critical components such as clients, servers, routers, and switches. Modems connect devices to the internet, while network interfaces enable devices to join a network. These elements, together with wired and wireless media, make data transmission feasible across distances.

For example, a modem connects a home router to an internet service provider (ISP), enabling users to access the internet and local network resources.

Source C: Transmission Media in Networks: Wired vs. Wireless

Networks rely on transmission media for data transfer. Wired media (e.g., Ethernet and fiber-optic cables) provide high-speed, reliable connections, while wireless media (e.g., Wi-Fi and cellular networks) enable mobility. Each medium has specific advantages depending on the application.

For instance, fiber-optic cables support high-speed internet in metropolitan areas, while Wi-Fi enables device connectivity within homes and offices without physical cabling.

Source D: Network Protocols and Communication Rules

Protocols define communication standards for data exchange across networks. TCP/IP is foundational for the internet, while HTTP supports web browsing. Protocols like FTP and SMTP enable file transfers and email communication, respectively.

For example, TCP/IP underpins internet connections, ensuring data packets are transmitted between devices without data loss, even over long distances.

The Impact of Autonomous Vehicles on Urban Infrastructure

The integration of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has the potential to transform urban infrastructure by reducing traffic congestion, improving road safety, and optimizing parking. However, AVs also require infrastructure modifications, and their presence raises questions about road-sharing laws, pedestrian safety, and ethical decision-making in complex traffic situations.

E-commerce platforms like Amazon use personalization algorithms to recommend products based on users’ past behavior and preferences. While this can enhance the shopping experience, it may also limit exposure to diverse products and shape consumer purchasing habits.

Pre-released statement Tracking e-waste recycling through digital systems

This pre-released statement is provided to support your planning for extended inquiries into a real-world digital society challenge. You should conduct research that can be applied to new stimulus material, including stakeholder perspectives and practical implementation constraints.

Discarded electronics contain valuable materials but also hazardous substances. When devices are dumped, burned, or informally dismantled, toxins can enter soil and water and expose workers and nearby residents to serious health risks. At the same time, formal recycling systems may struggle with low participation, weak collection networks, and limited trust that items are handled safely. Leakage can occur when devices intended for responsible recycling are diverted to informal brokers, exported without proper controls, or “lost” during transport.

Digital technologies are often proposed to improve traceability and accountability. Yet such systems may exclude people who lack smartphones, stable internet, transport options, or official documentation. Incentive programs can raise collection rates but also motivate fraud (for example, repeated claims for the same item, or substitution with counterfeit tags). Effective governance requires balancing ease of participation with credible verification, and ensuring that benefits (such as rewards) are distributed fairly.

Source 1: Text item

A city launches “ReTrace,” a system for tracking small household e-waste (phones, cables, chargers, small appliances). Key features:

• QR tags are issued at participating retailers and community centers; users attach a tag when dropping off an item.
• Each handover is scanned and logged (drop-off point → transporter → sorting facility → certified recycler).
• Users receive rewards (public-transport credits or mobile-data vouchers) after the item is scanned at a certified sorting facility.
• Audit checks: random inspections of transport loads; periodic reconciliation between logged weights and recycler output certificates; flags for unusual scan patterns (high volume from one account, repeated tag re-use).
• Data stored includes scan timestamps, location IDs, item category, approximate weight, and an account identifier used to deliver rewards.

Stakeholder comments (Source 2):

• A recycler operations manager states that “speed at intake matters. Extra scanning steps slow queues and increase unsafe stockpiling.”
• A consumer advocate counters that without transparent dispute handling, users may lose trust if rewards are delayed, accounts are flagged incorrectly, or drop-off sites are concentrated in wealthier districts.