ICTs are part of the solution
to combat climate change
Message from ITU Secretary-General
to the
2010 Climate Change Conference
29 November 2010
As the UN ncy for
information and communications technologies
(ICTs), the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) is working to connect the world.
This connectivity will give us the ability
to address some of the key challenges faced
by our society – including climate change.
As global leaders, environmental experts
and representatives from international
organizations, NGOs and other sectors gather
in the city of Cancun, Mexico, to establish
the basis for a future agreement that will
enable the full, effective and sustained
implementation of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) through long-term cooperative
action we call on them to recognize the
phenomenal power of ICTs in addressing
climate change.
Clearly ICTs are a contributor to Greenhouse
Gas (GHG) emissions. Around 2.5% of global
emissions by some estimates. So we need to
work with industry to keep this impact low.
ITU is very engaged in this activity working,
for example, on a common methodology to
measure the ICT sector’s carbon footprint.
We are also identifying innovative ways to
reduce the emissions from the sector by
building more energy efficient networks,
devices and services and by implementing
public policies that will promote greener
technologies.
The most startling fact about ICTs and
climate change is their role in controlling
overall emissions. Studies have shown that
the application of ICTs can reduce the
carbon footprint across all sectors by a
factor of five. For example, broadband
networks allow individuals to work more from
home and companies to reduce air travel.
ICTs allow “atoms” to be substituted by
“bits” (i.e., streaming a movie online,
rather than buying a DVD). ICTs can also
help manage smart buildings that power
themselves and then feed energy back into
the electricity grid, a smart grid providing
much more energy efficient distribution.
Intelligent transport systems (ITS) can
clear our cities of debilitating pollutants
and traffic jams. ICTs can also enable
better and cleaner water distribution. There
is a very long list of examples.
In terms of monitoring climate change,
ICTs clearly have a key role. Satellite
technologies and radio-based remote sensors,
are the main tools for environmental
observation and climate monitoring. Disaster
prediction, detection and early warning
systems are essential for governments to
adjust and respond to the effects of climate
change.
ICTs are a cross-cutting technology that
can drive the deep transformation needed in
the global effort to combat climate change
and advance the implementation of the
Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. This is
all about opportunity. Forward-thinking
leaders already recognize the role of ICTs.
The challenge today is to move forward and
look to ICTs as a key enabler of a new model
of social and economic development.
The time is right to recognize the power
of ICTs in the outcomes of the climate
change negotiations. Recognition at this
level will highlight ICTs as an enabler for
projects in developing countries and
increase the likelihood of funding; it will
invite the ICT sector to be more active and
make the world more aware of the power of
green ICT and it will apply pressure on
policy makers to apply smart technologies
for greening our towns and cities.
For these reasons I invite COP16
delegates to look to the ICT sector, and
take maximum advantage of the power of ICTs
as part of the solution to combat climate
change.
By working together we can advance the
implementation of new solutions for a better
future.