Standardized methodologies for calculating the impact of information and
communication technologies (ICT) in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have
been proposed by an ITU Focus Group meeting in Hiroshima,
Japan.
The ITU-T Focus Group on ICTs and Climate
Change, a global group comprising of some of the world’s leading ICT players,
has developed a method for calculating two elements:
1. Energy usage and carbon impact arising from ICT
lifecycles
2. Decrease in GHG emissions that can be achieved
with ICTs, such as substituting ICT services and devices for intensive
fossil-fuelled activities for travel and transport and by replacing atoms with
bits (buying an MP3 file instead of a CD), also known as “dematerialization”.
The meeting agreed on a set of four
‘deliverables’ that also give guidance on terms and definitions, including units
of measurement to be used. The deliverables draw on best practices from many
organizations around the world and will be published as the proceedings of the
Focus Group. The next step will be to formally issue the Focus Group outcomes as
ITU-T Recommendations, or standards.
“This work has an important bearing on
current and future global agreements under which countries undertake commitments
to reduce their overall GHG emissions,” said Malcolm Johnson, Director of ITU’s
Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. “Common approaches to calculating the
impact of ICTs are vital to ensure coherent and effective solutions.”
Clearly, ICTs have the potential to
drastically reduce GHGs. A contribution to the Focus Group meeting showed that
direct e-mail has the effect of a 98.5 per cent carbon dioxide emission
reduction compared with paper. The group also noted a trend towards ‘always-on’
devices that are a drain on power supplies. Recommended steps toward more
efficient energy use of ICT devices are part of the output of the
group.
“Even conservative estimates show a
significant contribution to addressing climate change can be made through the
application of ICTs,” said Johnson. “But, we cannot be content to sit and tell
one another that ICTs can mitigate climate change. We must demonstrate our case
with hard facts and figures. This methodology will give added credibility and
coherence to the estimates of the positive impact of ICT. A common methodology
will help establish the business case to go green and can ultimately be
beneficial to informed consumer choices and climate-friendly business
procurement.”
Dave Faulkner, BT and Chairman of the Focus
Group said, “The Focus Group has highlighted ways to minimize the ICT sector's
carbon footprint. But, more importantly, the group has highlighted key ways to
reduce GHG emissions in other sectors by the clever use of telecommunication and
ICTs. We expect these measures will be taken up by telecommunications operators
and vendors around the world.”
Jason Marcheck, a Principal Analyst with
Current Analysis: “Without a standardized methodology for measuring the carbon
footprint of ICTs it is impossible to fully comprehend data provided by
well-meaning companies. This initiative helps to provide a framework that
companies can follow to give reliable data that can be compared on an
international scale. It shows the importance that the ICT industry attaches to
this topic, and represents a necessary step forward in standardizing the way
that the industry approaches environmental
sustainability.”
Takashi Hanazawa, Senior Vice President,
NTT: “The development and implementation of a standardized methodology is
something that all industry players have been waiting for. As an ITU member, NTT
has supported this work from the beginning. Today’s announcement sends a strong
message, underlining this industry’s commitment to reducing its carbon
footprint. We applaud ITU’s efforts and join with ITU management in sending a
message of environmental consciousness and belief in sustainable growth for the
future.”
Makoto Totsuka, Director-General for ICT
Strategic Policy Planning, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications,
Japan: “Prior to the Focus Group, we have not had an international forum for
discussing common measures to calculate the positive and negative aspect of
ICTs. We were honoured to host the final meeting of the Focus Group and would
like to thank all delegates for their efforts. We will continue to contribute to
ITU activity on ICT and Climate Change and environmental
issues.”
Laura Ipsen, Senior Vice President of Cisco
Global Policy and Government Affairs and co-chair of the Cisco EcoBoard:
“Accurate, standardized measurement is the first step towards effective
reduction of the ICT carbon footprint. The ITU-T Focus Group deliverables
provide a valuable foundation for further ICT industry global collaboration in
helping to address the world’s environmental challenges. Cisco is committed to
continuing its efforts in ITU and with customers globally for energy
efficiency in an inclusive and sustainable information
society.”
As part of its ongoing work on ICTs and
climate change, ITU is organizing the third Symposium on ICTs and Climate Change
in Quito, Ecuador, 8− 10 July 2009, hosted by Centro Internacional de
Investigación Científica en Telecomunicaciones, Tecnologías de la Información y
las Comunicaciones (CITIC) Ecuador. More details here.
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