Moving Forward the
Climate Agenda Through
Green ICTs
Cristina Bueti, Programme Coordinator,
ITU
Accra, 8 July 2011
International
Telecommunication
Union
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the ITU or its Membership.
Committed to Connecting the World
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
Looking Ahead to COP-17
 COP-17: 28 November - 9
December 2011, Durban
(South Africa)
 Linking ICTs with the Cancun
Agreements
 I therefore call on this meeting to send a clear
message calling for increased ICT investment and
funding at the next round of negotiations to be held in
Durban, South Africa when considering the progress in
operationalising new institutions such as the
Technology Mechanism and Green Climate Fund.
– H. E. DRAMANI MAHAMA, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
GHANA
July 2011
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Committed to Connecting the World
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
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Committed to Connecting the World
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 By driving down emissions in the
ICT sector itself
 By
2
cutting emissions and raising
energy efficiency in other sectors
 By
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helping countries adapt to the
negative effects of climate change
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
What ITU is doing together with
ICT industry to tackle climate
change and protect the
environment?
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
ITU-T created Study Group
“Environment & Climate Change”
 ITU-T Study Group 5 (April 2009)
 New Working Party “ICT and Climate Change”
 Continuing and expanding the work
of ITU-T Focus Group on ICT and CC
 Next meeting will be held from
20 - 28 September, Seoul - Korea
 All ITU-T study groups to examine
impact of recommendations on climate
change
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
ITU-T SG5 established seven
work areas
 Coordination and Planning of ICT&CC related standardization
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(Question 17 of ITU-T SG 5)
Methodology of environmental impact assessment of ICT
(Q18/5)
Power feeding systems (Q19/5)
Data collection for Energy Efficiency for ICTs
over the lifecycle (Q20/5)
Environmental protection and recycling of
ICT equipments/facilities (Q21/5)
Setting up a low cost sustainable
telecommunication infrastructure for
rural communications in developing countries (Q22/5)
Using ICTs to enable countries to adapt to climate change
(Q23/5)
July 2011
ITU-T Methodology
 Common methodology for measuring ICT
carbon footprint
 Without, it will be impossible to provide
meaningful comparisons
 Helps to establish the
business case to go green
International
Telecommunication
Union
6 Recommendations under preparation

Overview and general principles, approved in February 2011

Environmental impact of ICT goods, networks and services

Environmental impact of ICT in organisations
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Environmental impact of ICT projects
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Environmental impact of ICT in countries
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Environmental impact of ICT in cities
 Covers definition of different types of environmental impacts, and general
principles for the evaluation of ICT environmental impacts
 Focuses on energy and GHG emissions
 Covers direct and indirect impacts of ICT
 Consent expected in September 2011
 Includes 3 scopes of ISO 14064-1
 Consent expected in September 2011
 Consent expected in 2012
 Consent expected in 2012
 Consent expected in 2012
International
Telecommunication
Union
Cooperations include
International
Telecommunication
Union
Committed to Connecting the World
Standard for a universal
charger for mobile phones
 “Universal power adapter and
charger solution for mobile
terminals and other ICT
devices” (ITU-T
Recommendation L.1000)
 specifies general requirements
 covers charger for mobile phones
 Future version will cover other
ICT devices
July 2011
ITU’s universal charger standard
Instead of this …
… have this:
Recommendation rev. L.1000
Approved June 2011 New
International
Telecommunication
Union
Committed to Connecting the World
Collaboration with UN
Agencies on E-waste
 ITU with UNEP Basel Convention, United Nations
University and in collaboration with SteP Initiative and
the Center for Environment and Development for the
Arab Region (CEDARE) will carry out a joint survey on
e-waste (July 2011)
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
Raising Awareness
 Research & Publications
 Technology Watch Reports
 Resources Website
 Symposiums, Events and
Workshops
 ITU Green Standards Week
 Workshop in Korea
 Joint Coordination Activity on
ICT&CC
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
Using Submarine
Communications Networks to
Monitor the Climate
This ITU-T Technology Watch Report gives an overview of how old and new
submarine cables could be used for decades to come as a major resource
and a real-time global network to monitor climate change and to provide
tsunami warnings.
Future generations of cables and associated components could have the
capacity to directly measure climate variables, such as water temperature
and salinity, as well as give pressure readings on the ocean floor.
http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/techwatch/Pages/submarinenetworks.aspx
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
ICT as an Enabler for Smart
Water Management
Smart water management has become a key policy issue for the 21st
century, as a growing number of factors are impacting the delivery of
already scarce fresh water to millions of people.
Economic growth, seasonal climatic conditions and rising population are all
affecting availability of water resources. Moreover, a number of effects linked
to climate change, such as lengthy droughts and extreme weather events,
are worsening the situation.
This ITU-T Technology Watch Report provides an overview of how ICT can be
a strategic enabler for smart water management policies and surveys
upcoming ICT standards that will enable smart water initiatives.
http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/techwatch/Pages/smartwatermanagement.aspx
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
ITU is organizing the first Green Standards
Week from 5 to 9 September 2011 in Rome, Italy,
hosted by Telecom Italia.
Organiser
The Green Standards Week will bring together leading
specialists in the field, from top policy-makers to
engineers, designers, planners, government officials,
regulators, standards experts and others.
The main purpose is to raise awareness of the
importance and opportunities of using ICT standards to
build a green economy.
Host
General Information
 When: 5 - 9 September 2011
 Where: Rome, Italy
 Participation is free of charge
 Discussions will be held in English only
http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/climatechange/gsw/201102/index.html
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
ITU Green Standards Week
 5 September 2011.: Workshop on Methodologies for
Environmental Impact Assessment of ICT will examine work
underway to measure the impact of ICTs on climate change
and how to standardize the way to calculate the reduction of
GHG that ICTs have.
 Jointly organized with European Commission
 6-8 September 2011: Workshop on Moving to a Green Economy
through ICT Standards will explore how ICTs can help to address
climate change and build a green economy, shedding light on
standards, policies and best practices.
 High Level Segment with Ministers & CEOs
 8-9 September 2011: Workshop on Using Submarine
Communications Networks to Monitor the Climate, will aim to
encourage the development of new technologies and standards
and will explore business opportunities for telecommunication
companies to become active players in monitoring climate
change.
 Jointly organized with WMO and UNESCO IOC
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
ITU Workshop on Progressing the Climate
Agenda Through Green ICTs
 Where: Seoul, Korea
 When: 19 September
2011
 Objective: to move
forward the agenda on
using ICTs to monitor
climate change, mitigate
and adapt to its effects.
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Organiser
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Host
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
ITU-T established Joint
Coordination Activity (JCA)
 Objectives:
 to co-ordinate across ITU-T study groups
and with ITU-R and ITU-D
 to seek co-operation from external bodies
including non-ITU member organizations
 Next Physical Meeting: 28 September 2011, Seoul,
Korea (remote participation will be provided)
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
ITU Project in Ghana in
collaboration with UNFCCC
 Two pillars:
 “ How telecommunications sector can reduce its
emissions in Ghana?” - Led by EPA Ghana and
kindly sponsored by Vodafone Ghana
 ITU-T Methodology used for the 1st time!
 “How ICTs can help Ghana to adapt to the effects
of Climate Change? – Led by Ministry of
Communications (Ghana) and kindly sponsored by
Research in Motion
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
Collaboration with ICT
Industry & UN Agencies
 Technical Specifications
for Sustainability
Standard
for the ICT Sector
 The project will focus on
development of a standardized
checklist of sustainability
requirements specific to the ICT
sector that will become a
contribution to ITU-T Study
Group 5 with the goal of
developing a global standard in
this area.
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ITU
UNEP
RIM
Climate Associates
Alcatel Lucent
Huawei
Microsoft
UNEP Basel convention
CEDARE
Step Initiative
BBC
European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
Verizon
Telefónica
Telecom Italia
France Telecom
United Nations University (UNU)
BIO Intelligence Service
Datec Technology
Ernst & Young
Vodafone Ghana
3p Institute for Sustainable Management
Dell
MicroPro Computers
PE INTERNATIONAL AG
ETNO
Thomson Reuters
Infosys
BT
Alcatel Lucent
Imperial College
July 2011
Committed to Connecting the World
What shall we say to our
children in 30 years?
Now it is time to move the climate
agenda forward and advance the
implementation of UNFCCC
Convention by promoting the use of
ICTs for the benefit of all countries
in bridging the digital divide and
achieving climate justice.
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Call to Action
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Links & Additional
Information
 ITU-T and climate change
http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/climatechange
 ITU and climate change
http://www.itu.int/climate
 ITU Symposia & Events on ICTs and Climate Change
http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/worksem/climatechange
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Committed to Connecting the World
cristina.bueti@itu.int
July 2011