ITU Telecom World 2009 In Review leaders to look at “climate change as a global issue, requiring global leadership and global priorities”. Alternative energy supplies are crucial. Around the world, an esti-mated 1.6 billion people live without access to electricity. An ad-ditional 1 billion people live in areas with unreliable power supplies. In the ensuing discussion, the round table meeting was unanimous in recogniz-ing the role of ICT as a key tool in helping to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. Solar power and other sources of renewable energy were seen by many participants as a part of the solution. But it was also clear that it would take a concerted global effort to make such technologies viable and sustainable. Alternative power Sierra-Leone’s Vice-President Alhaji Samuel Sam-Sumana commented that “as a small country in Africa, and as a continent, we are facing the issue of cli-mate change which was not of our making… In a small global village, we share the same problems. We should share the same benefits. We should all work together towards the enhancement of humanity, in order to share the good tid-ings of this Universe.” He called for mechanisms to be put in place to curb de-forestation and for ICT to be used to promote accountability and transparency in governance. He stressed that Africa is willing to cooperate in these efforts, especially through partnerships with the private sector. “We should also make use of alternative energy, such as hydro-electric, windmills and solar, to reduce effects on the environment,” Mr Sam-Sumana stated. Alternative energy supplies are crucial. Around the world, an estimated 1.6 bil-lion people live without access to electricity. An additional 1 billion people live in areas with unreliable power supplies. In order to expand ICT into areas without regular electricity supplies, mobile networks, for example, have primarily used diesel generators for power. Although oil prices have dropped a little, the con- 21 VVIPS and Ministerial Insight