ICTs and Climate Change

"Climate change is a global challenge that we cannot afford to lose"

Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), such as satellites, mobile phones or the Internet, play a key role to address the major challenges related with climate change and sustainable development. ICTs are fundamental to monitor climate change, mitigate and adapt to its effects and assist in the transition towards a green economy. By raising awareness of the role of ICTs, ITU is promoting transformative solutions that can ensure a sustainable future. Find more about ITU´s vision and mission in the area of climate change.

ITU and Telefónica have launched the 3rd Green ICT Application Challenge to promote Smart Sustainable Cities and environmental sustainability in urban areas. The submission period ends on 31 May 2013 at 12:00 PM CET.

ITU together with the Ministry for Economic Development of Italy is organizing the 8th ITU Symposium on ICTs, the Environment and Climate Change, hosted by Telecom Italia. The Symposium will be held on 6-7 May 2013 at Telecom Italia’s innovation laboratories in Turin, Italy. The Symposium in Turin will be dedicated to the theme of Smart Sustainable Cities.

ICT SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Resources Forum (WRF), Hewlett-Packard (HP) and GeSI are jointly organising the workshop "ICT solutions for sustainable lifestyles" to be held within the framework of the ICT4S conference on 13 February 2013 in Zürich, Switzerland.

NEW ITU-T PUBLICATIONS

ITU-T released during the 2nd ITU Green Standards Week a new series of reports on ICTs, sustainability and climate change. The reports cover issues such as smart grids, using submarine telecommunications cables for ocean and climate monitoring and disaster warning, using ICTs to support climate change adaptation and mitigation and adaptation in Ghana, among other issues.

Click here to access and download these reports

ITU KALEIDOSCOPE 2013

Poster of the 2013 ITU Kaleidoscope academic conference

Building Sustainable Communities − is the fifth in a series of peer-reviewed academic conferences organized by ITU that aim to identify emerging developments in IICTs at an early stage to generate successful products and services through the development of international and open standards. The conference will take place in Kyoto, Japan on 22-24 April 2013.

Click here to find out more and register

ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH BROADBAND

Cover of the report "A review of environmental sustainabilty in national broadband policies"

This case study looks at the potential and existing contributions broadband is making towards the achievement of MDG7, which targets environmental sustainability. It presents a global overview of the inclusion of references to environmental sustainability in national broadband policies.

From 26 November to 6 December 2012, ITU tok part at the 2012 UN Climate Change Conference, which took place in Doha, Qatar.

This webpage provides references to external resources on ICTs and the environment including information on climate change, conflict minerals, e-waste and other sustainability issues.

Committed to connecting the world

ICTs and Climate Change

ITU GREEN ICT APPLICATION CHALLENGE

8th ITU Symposium on ICTs, the enviornment and climate change

ICT SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES

NEW ITU-T PUBLICATIONS

ITU KALEIDOSCOPE 2013

ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH BROADBAND

RELIVE ITU PARTICIPATION AT COP18

GLOBAL PORTAL ON ICTS, THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

ITU´s activities by sector

GREEN ICT STANDARDS