itut/climate

1. Cristina Bueti Side Event on “ ICT and Climate Change: Finding Solutions” 10 December 2008, Poznań, Poland www.itu.int/climate

2. ICTs as a part of the solution It is estimated that ICTs contribute around 2-2.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These percentages are likely to grow as ICTs become more widely available. At the same time, ICTs can significantly help reduce climate change by: • promoting the development of more energy efficient devices, applications and networks; • encouraging environmentally friendly design; and • reducing the carbon footprint in its own industry and in other sectors, ICTs promise to drastically reduce GHG emissions.

3. ITU & Climate Change ITU is the leading United Nations Agency for ICTs Committed to Connecting the World-Committed to Connecting itresponsibly ITU mandate on Climate Change dates back in 1994 (Res. 35, Kyoto) New Resolution on CC just approved at the WTSA (Johannesburg, Oct. 2008) ITU is co-facilitator in issues related to WSIS Action Line C7: e-environment ITU’s activities on climate change can be found at: www.itu.int/climate 3

4. WTSA-08 • Resolution 73 on Climate Change • Notes conclusion of GSS that ICT industry can set an example by committing to specific programs with objectives to reduce overall GHG emissions • Recognizes that ICTs can make a substantial contribution and be a major factor to mitigate the effects of climate change, for example through energy-efficient devices, applications and networks • Resolves that CC is a high priority in ITU as part of our contribution to UN processes and global efforts to moderate climate change • Resolves to promote adoption of recommendations to ensure greater energy efficient of ICT devices and reduce GHG emissions in all sectors

5. High-Level Segment (HLS) of the ITU Council 2008 • HLS brought together Presidents of Burkina Faso and Rwanda along with Ministers, regulators and heads of UN agencies and focused on climate change & cybersecurity. (12-13 November 2008) • Declaration of the ITU Secretary General on climate change: • “ITU is mainstreaming this major issue into its regular work programme. ITU is undertaking important work on how ICTs can help prevent and avert climate change. There is a strong role for ITU in standards for energy efficiency of the ICT equipment on which our digital economy depends. ITU has always taken the lead in setting high standards for telecommunications and ICTs, and this is another key area in which ITU can make a real difference.”

6. Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change • ICTs can help mitigate the impact of climate change • Directly, e.g., through energy-saving • Next-Generation Networks (NGN) should reduce GHG emissions by 40% (Tech Watch Report) • Modern radio technologies reduce energy consumption by transmitters ~ 10 times • Indirectly, e.g. ICTs for carbon abatement • Video-conferencing to reduce business travel in Europe by 1% would save 1m CO2 tonnes • Systemically, e.g., by “dematerialisation” • Intelligent Transport Systems could reduce vehicle carbon emissions below 130g per km

7. FocusGroup on ICTs & Climate Change • Established by TSAG in July 2008 • Faulkner (BT) appointed as Chairman • Four deliverables expected by April 2009 • First meeting held 1-3 September 2008 in Geneva and 2nd meeting on 25-28 November 2008 • Working mainly through conference calls

8. What is the scope of the work? • “The FG should • analyze and identify gaps in the areas of definitions, general principles, methodology • (develop) appropriate tools to characterize the impact of ICTs on Climate Change • support the development of appropriate international standards”* • The Focus Group will be identifying • the impact of ICTs on Climate Change over their entire lifecycle • mitigation measures to be recommended when using ICTs in a relevant sectors • possible enhancements to monitoring of relevant climate parameters” * • The FG will be reducing fossil fuel dependence (incidentally) • saving cost and freeing up funds for better use • The FG will study adaptation to continuing changes in climate • The use of ICTs to monitor climate parameters can be extended to include Ubiquitous Sensor Networking (USNs), as input to short and long range weather forecasting and as a means of informing communities of imminent storms or farmers of long term trends (for crop selection). • USNs can also be used to monitor pollution (GHG) levels and so help to bring them under control *TSAG, TD 673 , Geneva, 2-9 July 2008

9. What are the Deliverables? • 1. Report on “terms and definitions”, December 2008 • E.g. which energy unit to use in the FG? • 2. Report on the “gap analysis” and proposed roadmap, December 2008 • What is already happening in standards? • What more can the FG or SGs do in standards? • 3. Report on “methodology”: Interim report, December 2008; Final report March 2009 • Estimate present and future per-user energy consumption of ICTs over their entire life-cycle • 4. Proposed Tools and Guidelines, December 2008 • Work with SGs in producing Checklists? • How can technologies be improved?

10. Work of ICT CC Focus Group (timeline for deliverables) Quality Assurance Review D1 Definitions D3 Methodology Develop Methodology/LCA Hiroshima Cont’b on D3 Final Deliv’ D2 Standards Gap Analysis and Roadmap QA Review Quality Assurance Review Edit D3 and Merged D1-4 D4 Proposed Tools and Guidelines Report To TSAG Quality Assurance Review December 31 D1,2,and 4 published on website March 4 Merge March 24-27 April 27

11. Who Contributed to the first meeting?

12. Monitoring Climate Change • As the steward of the global framework for spectrum, ITU • Provides radio-frequency spectrum and orbits for satellites for climate monitoring • Develops international treaty level standards for non-interference operation of radiocommunication systems involved in climate monitoring and mitigating negative effect of climate change • Carries out studies (through ITU-R Study Groups) • Develops World-wide standards (ITU-R Recommendations), and • Facilitates the introduction and operation of modern radio technologies and systems with low-energy consumption

13. Radio and Climate Monitoring Measuring sea level by radio remote sensor from satellite with precision of 2-3 cm • Radio-based remote sensors are the main tools for obtaining environmental data for climate monitoring • Systems belonging to Earth exploration-satellite, meteorological-satellite and meteorological aids radiocommunication services form the backbone of the WMO Global Climate Observing System

14. Radiocommunications for Adaptation and Mitigation • Environmental data obtained by radio-based remote sensors are used for climate change prediction and taking preventive measures to minimize its negative effects • Earth observation-satellite systems provide data for damage assessment and planning relief operation • Radiocommunications, in many cases, the only communication means in relief operations because the "wired" infrastructure is destroyed Satellite communication at disaster site

15. Assisting Developing Countries • Develop guidelines, training materials and toolkits on technology & policy aspects of e-Environment applications • Assist developing countries in implementing relevant ICT applications for environment and sustainable development • Challenges andopportunities • Awareness promotion • Work with international partners for capacity building and coordinated initiatives • Support developing countries for pilot project implementation • Monitor and evaluate results; share best practices with other countries INEED ITU’sHELP! 15 ... with highest priority to climate change

16. ICTs for e-Environment Report Objective: Provide guidelines for developing countries on the use of ICTs for better management and protection of the environment as a key part of their development process, with particular focus on climate change Examines six areas of ICT use: Environmental Observation, Analysis, Planning, Management & Protection, ICT Mitigation and Capacity Building Recommendations for developing countries: Strengthen national analysis, planning and implementation Use existing and new financial mechanisms Foster technology transfer Promote best practices Promote Public-Private partnerships 16

17. Building on these recommendations, ITU has initiated a series of activities to assist decision-makers in ITU Members States: e-Environment Readiness Index: Methodology and indicators for assessing a country’s level of e-environment readiness E-Environment toolkit: Practical guidelines for assessing needs and establishing strategies for the implementation of national e-environment master plans Direct assistance to countries in need: Using the developed tools to facilitate the deployment of infrastructure and related ICT services Capacity building: Workshops and training material to assist Member States in the development of master plans and the deployment of diverse ICT applications ICTs for e-Environment Report (cont.) 17 17

18. Towards a climate-neutral ITU • Developing a knowledge base and repository • Positioning ITU as a strategic leader • Promoting a global understanding through international fora and agreements • Achieving a climate-neutral ITU within three years • Conducting carbon audit • Using remote collaboration tools • Developing projects under CleanDevelopment Mechanism

19. “Climate Change is a global challenge that the world cannot lose.” Dr Hamadoun I. Touré ITU Secretary-General, 13 November 2008 “Climate change is the defining challenge of our era. ITU’s work to cut greenhouse gas emissions, develop standards and use ‘e-environment’ systems can speed up the global shift to a low-carbon economy. Ban Ki-moon United Nations Secretary-General, 12 November 2008

20. More information • ITU Activities on Climate Change http://www.itu.int/climate • or by contacting us at: climate@itu.int

21. Thank you for your attention! International Telecommunication Union cristina.bueti@itu.int