Yes. In HL Digital Society, a national policy counts as a digital intervention when it uses or governs digital systems to mitigate, intercede in, enhance or resolve part of a sustainability challenge. A policy need not be an app or device.
This is HL-only sustainable development, covering climate action, use of resources, and managing pollution and waste. The policy must deliberately connect a digital system to one of these challenges.
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Specific intervention | Identify an existing policy, not a general idea such as “use technology.” |
| Digital component | It must involve systems that create, store, process or distribute digital data and information. |
| Sustainability purpose | It must address a defined environmental challenge. |
| Mechanism | Explain how it changes behaviour, institutions or resource use. |
System: The United Kingdom's Smart Metering Implementation Programme supports smart electricity and gas meters. They record consumption digitally, send data to energy suppliers and show households information through in-home displays.
Example specifics: Under this national programme, suppliers must take steps to install meters for households and small businesses. The policy therefore governs large-scale deployment rather than merely recommending individual action.
Impacts and implications: Consumers can monitor consumption, and suppliers can receive readings without manual checks. This may reduce wasted energy and support more responsive electricity networks. However, effectiveness depends on behaviour, coverage, cost, data privacy and equitable access.
The intervention can be classified as interceding because it changes how energy consumption is measured and managed. It may also mitigate environmental harm by supporting lower energy use. Concepts: The policy raises questions about power over energy data, privacy and unintended consequences.