Transcript ITU in a fast evolving ICT world

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
[email protected]
www.itu.int/climate
International
Telecommunication
Union
A snapshot of ITU
International
Telecommunication
Union
Committed to Connecting the World
Telecommunications have evolved notably since the
invention of the telegraph …
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Committed to Connecting the World
Today, the use of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) is the key to access to the
information society
Real-time
Information
On-line public
services
Libraries
Personal
communication
Entertainment
Media
Databases
Social media
Social and
professional
networks
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Committed to Connecting the World
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)
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Committed to Connecting the World
ITU has assisted this evolution since 1865…
1865
2015
Technical standards
Satellite orbits
Policies and
regulations
Management of
spectrum
ICT development
… throughout the constant (and fast) evolution of Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs)
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Committed to Connecting the World
ITU is the UN specialized agency that promotes
global collaboration for a connected world
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The role of ICTs to address climate change
International
Telecommunication
Union
Committed to Connecting the World
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
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Committed to Connecting the World
(And adoption of ICTs is growing at a very fast rate)
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Committed to Connecting the World
(not to mention the problem of eWaste)
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Committed to Connecting the World
But ICTs are also part of the solution, as they are a
transformational tool that can deeply change several
industries, sectors and activities
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Committed to Connecting the World
The use of ICTs by new sectors can accelerate
innovation, improve access to basic services and create
a new model of (sustainable) development
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Committed to Connecting the World
ICTs can support the key areas of the
Bali Action Plan
Shared
vision
Mitigation
of climate
change
Adaptation
Technology
development
and transfer
Science and
data
monitoring
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How ITU is promoting the use of ICTs to
address climate change
(a few examples)
International
Telecommunication
Union
Committed to Connecting the World
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
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Committed to Connecting the World
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
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Committed to Connecting the World
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
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Committed to Connecting the World
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.
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Committed to Connecting the World
Data Monitoring
As the steward of the global framework for spectrum and satellite orbits, ITU:
 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
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Committed to Connecting the World
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
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A final call for action
International
Telecommunication
Union
Committed to Connecting the World
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.
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Committed to Connecting the World
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
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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
[email protected]
www.itu.int/climate
International
Telecommunication
Union