Page 57 - Turning digital technology innovation into climate action

Turning digital technology innovation into climate action

It is also important to note that renewable energy sources are not de facto clean energy sources in
terms of carbon footprints, although they are certainly cleaner. In fact, the carbon footprint of ICT Chapter 7
goods and services depends in large part on how and where energy is generated and whether power
is generated from fossil fuels or renewable energy sources.

While increasing urbanization may intensify pressures on the environment, it also provides opportunities
to roll-out new ICT-based solutions. As this can only be achieved with multi-stakeholder and public and
private sector partnerships, ITU plays a vital role in providing the platform for such partnerships and
close working relationships globally and across sectors. ITU performs extensive work on researching,
standardizing and raising awareness about ICTs in the context of climate change and response.

Emerging, i.e. frontier, technologies offer particular promise in accelerating the results of active
response to climate change and its effects. The key to their successful use in this regard will be
strategic and inclusive deployment that will help developed and developing countries alike to reduce
inequalities. This is because the ‘value’ of an ICT service cannot be measured only in terms of its
popularity, consumer convenience or carbon footprint. Many ICT services have important social
benefits for poor and vulnerable populations (e.g. the retinal scans and identity authentication of
refugees using blockchain, and the value of connectivity in refugee camps as a means of staying in
touch with friends and family back home). Also important is scaling them as solutions only once their
net effect is that of environmental load reduction and acceleration of response to climate change
impacts, as these frontier technologies can also contribute to climate change.

Education and raising awareness of the role and further potential of ICTs in monitoring climate change
and mitigating and adapting to its effects is key to unlocking the transformative solutions that can be
deployed to ensure a sustainable future.

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