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Information
and communication technologies (ICTs) can play a critical role in
combating climate change through mitigation of its effects and the
reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The growing use of ICTs
contributes to global warming, for example, the many billions of mobile
phones, often left to charge overnight. ICTs are also a key part of the
solution, in monitoring, mitigating and adapting to climate change. There are many causes of climate change, some of which are entirely
natural, such as variations in solar radiation and volcanic activity,
but it is the man-made changes that are of grave concern, with the
progressive and accelerating warming of the planet from greenhouse gas
emissions caused by humans. The work of the
UN Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that global greenhouse gas emissions have
risen by 70 per cent since 1970.
The ICT sector contributes around 2.5 * per cent of GHG emissions, with
40 per cent of this deriving from the energy requirements of personal
computers and data monitors, plus a further 23 per cent from data
centres. Fixed and mobile telecommunications contribute an estimated 24
per cent of the total. As the ICT industry grows faster than other
sectors of the economy, its share will increase over time, unless
actions are taken to limit the growth of emissions. ICTs contribute to
global warming, through:
- the growing number of ICT users (in line with the MDGs);
- many users having multiple ICT devices;
- rising processing power and screen size;
- growth in “always-on” usage modes.
ICTs have the potential to assist the remaining 97.5 per cent of the
global economy in reducing its emissions, for example, by telework and
teleconferencing.
* This
number does not include emissions from radiocommunication
systems/equipment.
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