Page 6 - The 4th Global Standards Symposium 2022 - Conclusions

How can we make digital transformation sustainable?

The GSS-20,
Recalling that digital transformation plays an indispensable role in promoting sustainability, circularity and
resilience,

– Stresses the need for international standards to enable the acceleration of the transition to a net zero,
energy efficiency, circular economy fulfilling the SDGs within planetary boundaries and protecting
biodiversity. It also urges ITU to continue strengthening collaboration with other SDOs, including ISO,
IEC, and other United Nations entities such as UNEP, UNIDO, WMO and UNFCCC to meet the goals set in
the Paris Agreement, Glasgow Climate Pact and ITU’s Connect 2030 Agenda.
– Recommends ITU to continue the development of standards to support the telecommunication/ICT
sector’s transition towards a circular economy by providing guidance on the requirements of global
sustainable products. In this context, Recommendation ITU-T L.1023 provides useful guidance to design
and to verify the circularity of telecommunication/ICT products taking into consideration the concept of
extended producer responsibility.
– Encourages the telecommunication/ICT Sector to commit to net zero objectives by prioritizing the
reduction of scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in line with Recommendation ITU-T L.1471, in particular stressing
the emission reductions during this decisive decade as outlined in Recommendation ITU-T L.1470, and
by developing solutions that help other sectors reduce their footprints.
– Stresses that standards such as Recommendation ITU-T L.1380 series can facilitate energy saving and
carbon emission reduction by providing guidance on how smart energy can be achieved to maximize the
use of renewable and clean energy sources with digital technologies.
– Encourages ITU to continue to set targets and develop standards, trajectories and databases in these
areas, including the impact on biodiversity, to support a science-based and fair assessment and evolution
of the environmental impacts of telecommunication/ICT, thereby strengthening its positive effects and
counteracting any adverse effects.
– Emphasizes that open platforms such as the ITU Focus Group on Environmental Efficiency for Artificial
Intelligence and other Emerging Technologies (FG-AI4EE), can facilitate knowledge transfer and identify
the standardization needs for improving the sustainability aspect of digital transformation.

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