Objectives

In accordance with WTSA Resolution 54 (Creation of regional groups), Resolution 72 (Measurement concerns related to human exposure to electromagnetic fields), Resolution 73 (Information and communication technologies, environment and climate change) and Resolution 79 (The role of telecommunications / information and communication technology in handling and controlling e-waste from telecommunication and information technology equipment and methods of treating it), ITU-T Study Group 5, at its meeting in February 2013, created the ITU-T SG5 Regional Group for Asia Pacific and the Pacific and updated its terms of reference in May 2017.

The objectives of this Regional Group include, but are not limited to, the dissemination of the studies on electromagnetic environment, human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), e-waste and circular economy, achieving energy efficiency, smart energy and utilizing ICT for dealing with climate change; to encourage the participation of its countries in the SG5 events; and to establish a link to attend to the needs of Member States of Asia and the Pacific on the issues covered by SG5 mandate.

Terms of Reference

• To encourage the active participation of the Asia and the Pacific region administrations, regulators, operators and manufacturers in the work of ITU-T SG5, and to report the outcomes and deliverables of SG5 if needed;
• To foster discussions and studies on the challenges related to the EMC, EMF effects on health, circular economy protection of the environment and other challenges faced by administrations, regulators, operators and manufacturers within the Asia Pacific region, in line with the SG5 mandate;
• To encourage the participation of the Asia Pacific countries, regulators and operators in the work of SG5 in order to establish a link to attend to their needs as well as contribute to the development of new or revised ITU-T Recommendations, Supplements and Technical Reports on the issues covered under SG5 mandate;
• To encourage the participation of the Asia Pacific region countries in the Regional Group’s meetings, forums, workshops and other SG5 events;
• To encourage the Asia Pacific countries to contribute to the work of SG5 and especially to contribute to the new/revised Recommendations to be developed by SG5;
• To encourage the Asia Pacific countries to actively participate in the Regional Group for discussions on the environment, e-waste, EMF, ICT and climate change, circular economy and other meetings related to these topics, especially when these meetings are organized in the Asia Pacific region;
• To act as liaison hub between the Asia Pacific region administrations, regulators, operators, manufacturers and SG5 in affairs related to environmental, circular economy and climate change policies, if needed;
• To collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to work towards the objectives of international agreements and instruments including the Connect 2020 Agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, among others;
• To collaborate with Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Standardization Program (ASTAP) Green ICT and EMF Exposure Expert Group and other regional groups handling the issue of environment, climate change and circular economy in order to avoid duplication of work;
• To support any initiative leading to the Group’s evolution and consolidation;
• To suggest new work items to ITU-T Study Group 5 if needed;
• The Regional Group is encouraged to cooperate with other regional groups to maximize synergies when needed.

Working methods

Most of the work should be done with electronic tools, for example the available Web Conferencing Tools.

• TSB secretariat will provide necessary support to the regular meeting of this Regional Group in accordance with available budgetary resources.
• The regional group will be encouraged to hold physical meetings. The regional group is also encouraged to use remote collaborations tools and co-locate with existing meetings to the maximum extent.
• Regional Group progress reports are to be provided to the parent study group meeting.

SG5RG-AP Mailing List

In order to subscribe to the new sg5rgap mailing list, a TIES or a Guest account is required. TIES users can subscribe directly. If you do not yet have a TIES account, but are eligible for one, please apply for one here: http://www.itu.int/TIES. If not, you can create a Guest account here: http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/services/. Once you have your Guest account, please send your request via email to tsbsg5@itu.int.