Enabling a low carbon future: the role of ITU and ICTs to address climate change

1. Enabling a low carbon future: the role of ITU and ICTs to address climate change 2010 Social Forum - October 6th, 2010 Jose Maria Diaz Batanero jose.batanero@itu.int www.itu.int/climate

2. A snapshot of ITU

3. Telecommunications have evolved notably since the invention of the telegraph …

4. Today, the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is the key to access to the information society Real-time Information Libraries On-line public services Personal communication Entertainment Media Databases Social and professional networks Social media

5. To the extend that access to ICTs is already considered a basic human right Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.“ (UN, 1997) Reference to Article 19 in the World Summit of the Information Society “Everyone has a right to freedom of opinion and expression; right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Communication is a fundamental social process, a basic human need and the foundation of all social organization.” (WSIS -2003/2005)

6. ITU has assisted this evolution since 1865… 18652015 Technical standards Policies and regulations Satellite orbits Management of spectrum ICT development … throughout the constant (and fast) evolution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)

7. ITU is the UN specialized agency that promotes global collaboration for a connected world

8. The role of ICTs to address climate change

9. ICTs play a double role in climate change • On the one hand they are part of the problem… • ICTs contribute 2-2.5 % of GHG, according to some estimates

10. (And adoption of ICTs is growing at a very fast rate) 10

11. (not to mention the problem of eWaste)

12. But ICTs are also part of the solution, as they are a transformationaltool that can deeply change several industries, sectors and activities

13. The use of ICTs by new sectors can accelerate innovation, improve access to basic services and create a new model of (sustainable) development

14. ICTs can support the key areas of the Bali Action Plan Sharedvision Mitigationof climatechange Adaptation Technologydevelopmentand transfer Science and data monitoring

15. How ITU is promoting the use of ICTs to address climate change(a few examples)

16. Work in mitigation (1) • Reduction of energy consumption by ICT equipment through new standards; • E.g. The promotion of Next Generation Networks (reducing power consumption by up to 40%) • Better use of spectrum to reduce energy consumption of wireless devices. • Advancing on new standards to promote reduction of emissions by other sectors • Smart grids and smart buildings • Intelligent transport systems • Remote working technologies • Sensor-based networks

17. Work in mitigation (2) • Promoting new regulations to encourage the industry to focus on energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. (the importance of adopting a common methodology to measure results) • Over 40 organizations from the whole sector (public sector and industry) participate in the ITU group to develop a methodology for measuring ICT carbon footprint • Without, it will be impossible to provide meaningful comparisons • Helps to establish the business case for the industry to go green

18. Addressing e-waste • Engagement of industry and policy makers in promoting recycling and reduction e-waste, lifecycle analysis • E.g. Universal mobile charger (ITU-T Recommendation L.1000) • Promoting of policies for the correct management of ICT equipment throughout its lifecycle

19. Adaptation • Support to get telecoms up and running after disasters • Recent examples Pakistan, Haiti and Chile • E-Environment Toolkit will help countries to assess the contribution that ICTs can make to reduce GHG emissions.

20. Ensures availability of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits for climate monitoring and climate change prediction Develops international treaty level standards to ensure non-interference operation of systems involved in climate monitoring; Carries out studies (through ITU-R Study Groups) for development of new wireless technologies to increase use of remote sensors; Assists administrations in implementing radio systems by analyzing compatibility between new and existing systems Data Monitoring As the steward of the global framework for spectrum and satellite orbits, ITU:

21. Technology transfer • Within the WSIS process ITU has built a global online community to exchange best practices in the use of ICTs to promote sustainable development; • Focus in project stocktaking; • Open to multi-stakeholders (government, academia, private sector, NGOs, etc.) • Related topics: • E-agriculture • E-environment

22. A final call for action

23. ICTs are at the foundation of a Green Economy • ICTs play a key role as an enabling technology to monitor climate change and reduce GHG emissions: we need to define ICTs as a basic utility that should be included in national development plans and encourage industrial sectors to adopt ICTs to reduce their carbon footprint. • Open and global standards lower the cost of access to technologies and increase the “network effect”: we must encourage the industry to build on open standards that use energy efficiency as a key technical factor. • The benefits of ICTs go beyond access to information, they extend access to basic services and strengthen democracy and human rights: we need to engage all relevant actors (governments, citizens, NGOs and business) to work together to provide universal access to ICTs.

24. Next key event • 5th Symposium on ICTs and the Environment & Climate Change (2-3 November 2010, Cairo, Egypt) • Topics to be discussed will include: adaptation to climate change, e-waste, cost-effective ICT technologies, methodology of environmental impact assessment of ICT and financing of climate change solutions. • Outcome: The symposium will issue the “Cairo Road Map”, a set of recommendations for action in relation to ICTs, the Environment and Climate Change. • Registration open for both on-site and remote participation

25. Enabling a low carbon future: the role of ITU and ICTs to address climate change 2010 Social Forum - October 6th, 2010 Jose Maria Diaz Batanero jose.batanero@itu.int www.itu.int/climate