Countries worldwide are taking significant strides to measure and mitigate GHG emissions from digital production and services. From France to Rwanda to Brazil, regulatory initiatives are shaping the future of environmental responsibility in the ICT sector. A 2024 ITU and World Bank report underscores the pivotal role of data in crafting effective emissions reduction policies. Comprehensive, country-based data on GHG emissions is crucial for informed climate action. ICT regulators play a central role in compiling and disseminating this critical information, enabling targeted interventions for a greener future. Learn more about how better data is needed to green digital transformation.
Global Symposium for Regulators 2025 and incorporating ESG into ICT policy making and regulation
The article Monitoring sustainability: Incorporating ESG into ICT policy making and regulation, produced by ITU and released during the Global Symposium for Regulators 2025 (GSR-25) through the Digital Regulation Platform, offers guidance for ICT regulators to develop and integrate ESG frameworks into policy. Many ICT regulators and policy makers already collect operational and financial data on the ICT sector. They also have regulations related to ESG such as e-waste, universal service, data privacy and child online protection among others. However, a formalized ESG framework would connect ICT regulator activities more visibly to sustainability efforts of the sector, enhancing analysis and comparability.
Global Symposium for Regulators 2024 and Survey Results
Upcoming In 2024, ITU conducted a survey among World Telecommunication/ICT Indicator focal points to assess priorities and needs in ICT sector emissions monitoring. Results of the survey will be shared later in 2024.
ITU’s Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-24) includes a dedicated session on ‘Harnessing digital for climate action,’ This platform allows countries to share experiences in monitoring GHG gas emissions, highlighting collaborative efforts between regulators and the private sector to foster a sustainable and environmentally responsible ICT sector.
Global Symposium for Regulators and Global ICT Regulatory Outlook 2023
The Global ICT Regulatory Outlook 2023 report explores nine issues that should be on every regulator's radar, including how regulation can support the twin green and digital transitions. It highlights that higher regulatory pressure is needed to report climate data and support harmonizing methodologies and standards.
An event on 'Going Green with the Digital Transformation ' was held at the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-23) on the 8 June 2023 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. This session explored the involvement and role of regulators in reporting GHG emissions data and regulating e-waste originating from the ICT sector.