Environment, climate action, circular economy and electromagnetic fields
ITU-T Study Group 5 (SG5) develops international standards to promote an environmentally sustainable, resilient and inclusive telecommunications/ICT sector. It focuses on enabling safe, resilient, efficient and responsible ICT development through global standardization.
ITU-T SG5 is responsible for developing international standards (ITU-T Recommendations), supplements and technical reports, serving as the lead expert group on:
- Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), resistibility and lightning protection
- Soft error caused by particle radiations
- Human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF)
- Circular economy and e‑waste management
- ICTs related to the environment, energy efficiency, clean energy and sustainable digitalization for climate actions
ITU-T SG5 standards provide policymakers, industry leaders and ICT stakeholders with the tools to adopt sustainable solutions while ensuring technological resilience.
SG5’s work focuses on:
- EMF & EMC Protection: Ensuring public safety by developing standards to assess human exposure to EMF and to verify compliance with the World Health Organization recommended human exposure guidelines and limits, and enhance the reliability and safety of telecommunication/ICT networks by providing requirements on resistibility and electromagnetic compatibility, and addressing the effect of particle radiation.
- Environmentally Efficient ICT Infrastructure: Establishing standards for building energy-efficient
and environmentally sustainable ICT infrastructure.
Key activities include: Environmental efficiency: Developing standards
and best practices to enhance environmental efficiency of: - Networks
- ICT sercives and products
- Data centres
- Environmental Impact & GHG Emissions: Developing assessment methodologies and
evaluating the environmental footprint of telecommunications/ICTs (including
new and emerging), including their impact on climate, biodiversity, and
industries with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Key activities include: - Lifecycle Assessment (LCA): Developing methodologies for assessing the environmental impact of ICTs throughout its lifecycle, from manufacturing to disposal, and promoting best practices for sustainability.
- Assess Environmental Sustainability of new and emerging technologies: Establish standards for defining and assessing the environmental impact of new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
- Net-Zero Transition for the ICT Sector: Providing GHG emissions assessment methodologies and best practices to assist organizations and countries in collecting relevant data, monitoring emissions, developing transition plans, and tracking progress toward climate targets.
- Climate Action & Resilient ICTs: Leveraging ICTs to reduce climate impact, support and accelerate climate change adaptation, and climate action across various sectors particularly industrial sector.
Key activities include: - ICTs enabling Environmental Efficiency: Developing standards to assess how telecommunications/ICTs can contribute to GHG emission reductions, improve energy efficiency, and support climate action across other sectors.
- Smart Energy Solutions: Developing smart energy solutions that optimize energy use, improve adaptability, and enhance ICT resilience for climate adaptation.
- Biodiversity Conservation: Define methodologies for using ICT to track biodiversity loss, deforestation, and habitat changes.
- Circular Economy & E-Waste Management: Developing standards to minimize e-waste, enhance material re-use, and transition towards a circular economy.
Key activities include: - Sustainable e-waste management: Developing standards on design methodologies and frameworks to reduce the volume and adverse environmental effects of e‑waste and to support the transition towards a circular economy.
- Circular economy: Providing standards to promote circular design principles, reduce the environmental footprint of ICT products and infrastructures, and increase transparency and traceability.
To align its standards with international best practices, ITU-T SG5 collaborates closely with major Standards Development Organizations (SDOs), including ETSI (with the development of technically aligned standards), ISO, IEC, 3GPP and IEEE. ITU-T SG5 also partners with UN agencies such as UNFCCC, UNEP, UNIDO, UNECE and UNESCO.Following ITU's unique approach, ITU-T SG5 fosters diverse and inclusive membership, bringing together governments, academia, regions and industry to accelerate sustainable digital transformation, drive innovation, and enhance the safety and sustainability of telecommunications/ICTs worldwide.
