Connecting the world and beyond

Mandate

In accordance with the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (WTDC) Resolution 66 (Rev. Baku, 2025, Provisional Report) and the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2022 (PP-22) Resolution 182 (Rev. Bucharest, 2022), ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau (ITU-D) has been given the mandate to develop its activities on ICTs, environment, climate change and circular economy in order to contribute to ongoing wider global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Through its key proposals, including the Baku Declaration and Baku Action Plan, ITU-D recognizes that the deployment of “telecommunications/ICTs comes with risks, challenges, and opportunities, ITU will continue to support the use of telecommunications/ICTs for monitoring, mitigating and adapting to climate change, facilitating digital solutions for energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions and protecting human health and the environment from e-waste. The environmental lens addressing climate change and integrating environmental sustainability considerations is instrumental to promote sustainable digital transformation”.

This has been highlighted by the ITU membership who declare “We acknowledge that against the backdrop of global challenges, rapid technology developments present unprecedented opportunities for building economic and ecological resilience. Ecological disasters and natural hazards have adverse impacts that are disproportionately felt by developing countries, and addressing these challenges involves advancing policies and technologies that promote resilience and resource-efficient digitalization. Acknowledging the principles reaffirmed by some Member States at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) and in the ITU’s Green Digital Action initiative, we also encourage the broader deployment of telecommunication/ICT solutions to enhance climate action, emergency monitoring, disaster response and early warning systems, and to drive improvements in energy efficiency through digital innovation." (The Baku Declaration, WTDC-25).

It is urgent for the ICT sector to advance progress towards the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) action lines and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Across its work, ITU systematically integrates environmental sustainability considerations, in line with the Strategy for Sustainability Management in the UN System 2020-2030.

Circular Economy and E-waste

The mandate of ITU-D on circular economy and e-waste recognizes the urgency of a transition to a circular economy. Increasingly, ICT products contain finite critical raw materials, requiring improved recycling rates and environmentally responsible extraction and disposal practices. Many countries have opportunities to develop policies, legislation, or monitoring systems for sustainable e-waste management, for a transition to a circular economy.

Amongst the targets of ITU's strategic plan for the period 2024-2027, target 2.5 calls for a significant improvement of ICT's contribution to climate and environment action. Similarly, the fifth thematic priority of the Strategic Plan encourages the adoption of policies and strategies for the environmentally sustainable use of telecommunications/ICTs. Considering both the positive and negative impacts of ICT usage, ITU-D works on improving global e-waste recycling rates. Towards this goal, ITU-D provides technical support for countries to apply harmonized data-collection methodologies on e-waste.

Resolution 66 from WTDC-25 positions the circular economy as a central pillar in the sustainable development of the ICT sector. By promoting resource efficiency, extending product lifespans, and fostering international cooperation, the resolution aims to reduce environmental impacts and support global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. It provides a strengthened mandate on assistance to developing countries in building human and institutional capacity to address the environmental impacts of ICTs, through the development of e-waste policy, regulation and data collection systems and the development of national action plans for a sustainable and circular economy for the ICT sector. It promotes circular economy principles towards the extension of the lifespan of ICT equipment, the combat against software obsolescence, an encouragement of repair and refurbishment of devices, an improvement of recovery of material resources from e-waste and the application of environmentally sustainable by-design approaches in ICT development. It also encourages cooperation with international organizations, platforms and partnerships for a circular economy for electronics and the strengthening of knowledge-sharing platforms, especially in developing countries. UNGA RES 77/161 also acknowledges this urgent need to “to provide developing countries and countries with economies in transition, … with financial assistance, capacity building support, and technology transfer, on mutually agreed terms, for the environmentally sound management of waste".

The management of e-waste relates closely to numerous SDGs, such as good health and well-being (SDG 3), and decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). Contributing to the realisation of SDG 6 on clean waste and sanitation, monitoring of different e-waste streams can particularly help towards the progress of SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities (target 11.6), and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production (targets 12.4 and 12.5) which has a sub-indicator on e-waste (SDG 12.5.1). E-waste data for this sub-indicator is obtained from the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership and Global E-waste Monitors by ITU, UNITAR and the UN Statistics Division.

Climate Change

WTDC Resolution 66 (Rev. Baku, 2025) highlights the critical role of ICTs in addressing climate change and supporting a green digital transformation. It recognises that while ICTs contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through energy use and infrastructure growth, they are also powerful enablers of climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience.

The resolution prioritises the use of ICTs to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency of networks and devices, and accelerate the transition to low-carbon digital infrastructure, including the use of renewable energy to power ICT operations. A key focus is on monitoring and data-driven climate action. The resolution underscores the importance of ICTs in monitoring and reporting GHG emissions from the ICT sector and at national level, and supporting standardized, harmonized environmental and emissions data collection. It calls for capacity building, training and technical assistance to help countries integrate ICTs into national climate strategies, resilience planning and emissions monitoring frameworks.

For the 2024-2027 period, ITU's strategic plan (target 2.5) acknowledges the contribution of greening ICTs and telecommunications to mitigate and address the adverse effects of climate change in relation to global greenhouse gas emissions. WTDC Resolution 66 (Rev. Baku, 2025) instructs ITU-D to lead and coordinate climate-related digital initiatives, develop action plans, deliver training and workshops, support national projects, and report annually on progress. Member States are encouraged to adopt national ICT strategies that include environmental indicators, reduce the carbon footprint of digital technologies, and leverage ICTs to meet climate commitments and Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition, the ITU PP-22 Resolution 182 (Rev. Bucharest, 2022) highlights the role of telecommunications/information and communication technologies regarding climate change and the protection of the environment. Under the Green Digital Transformation programme of work, ITU-D monitors emissions, energy use, and climate commitments from the ICT industry. It also supports countries in monitoring ICT sector climate impacts, harmonising data collection and indicator development, and developing green ICT strategies.

ITU's work on climate change is also closely linked to WSIS Action Line C7 e-environment, and together with WMO and UNEP, ITU is a facilitator of this action line on the promotion of ICTs as instruments for environmental protection and sustainability.

In relation to SDG 13 on climate action, ICTs enable both the global monitoring of climate change as well as strengthen resilience by helping mitigate the effects of climate change through forecasting and early warning systems. Discover more about ICTs for a sustainable world and other SDGs, including through this video.

Study Question 6/2 on ICTs and the Environment

As an outcome of WTDC-25, the scope of ITU-D Study Group 2 Q2/2 ’ICTs for the environment, and assessment of human exposure to electromagnetic fields’ for the 2026-2029 period will examine how ICTs can support environmental sustainability, climate action and responsible consumption and production, while also addressing public concerns related to human exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Outcomes for the study period 2022-2025 Question 6/2: ICTs for the environment is available here. The report synthesizes global practices in climate action and e-waste management, highlighting ICTs, Big Data, and Earth observation. It offers guidelines for integrating ICTs with sustainability goals and details actions for effective e-waste management and promoting a circular economy.

For the study period 2018-2021, the outcome of Question 6/2 on ICTs and the Environment is available here. The report looks at the growing challenge of e-waste and presents existing solutions for its safe disposal and use, through education, awareness, and development of adapted e-waste strategies. It also focuses on how frontier technologies, systems and applications can monitor and reduce the impact of climate change.This is the result of the previous Study Questions 6/2 on ICTs and climate change and 8/2 on Strategies and policies for the proper disposal or reuse of telecommunication/ICT waste material.

Regional Initiatives (2025-2029)

At WTDC-25, Member States approved a new set of Regional Initiatives for the period 2026-2029 under the Baku Action Plan, reflecting a strong commitment to integrating environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and circular economy principles into digital development.

Across regions, the initiatives emphasise the role of telecommunications and ICTs in supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation, reducing environmental footprints, and enabling resilient and sustainable digital infrastructure. Key priorities include promoting low-carbon and energy-efficient ICT networks, supporting the measurement and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and leveraging digital technologies to strengthen climate monitoring.

The initiatives also highlight the importance of circular economy approaches, notably through the development of comprehensive e-waste management policies, regulatory frameworks, and national strategies to reduce environmental harm and promote sustainable use of resources. In parallel, there is a strong focus on applying advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to monitor environmental and climate parameters and to improve decision-making.

Overall, the Baku Action Plan positions digital transformation as a critical enabler of environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and a circular economy, while encouraging diversified financing mechanisms and strengthened institutional capacity to support implementation at national and regional levels.

For inquiries regarding circular economy and climate change topics, including the support that ITU-D can provide, please contact us at eetmail@itu.int