international telecommunication union cristina bueti side event on ict and climate change: finding...
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InternationalTelecommunicationUnion
www.itu.int/climate
Cristina Bueti
Side Event on “ ICT and Climate Change:
Finding Solutions”
10 December 2008, Poznań, Poland
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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 togrow 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.
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ITU & Climate Change ITU is the leading United Nations
Agency for ICTs
Committed to Connecting the World-
Committed to Connecting it responsibly
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
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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
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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.”
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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
Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change
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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
Focus Group on ICTs & Climate Change
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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
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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?
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Work of ICT CC Focus Group (timeline for deliverables)
D1 Definitions
D2 StandardsGap Analysisand Roadmap
D3 Methodology
D4 Proposed Tools and Guidelines
December 31D1,2,and 4 published on website
Quality Assurance Review
March 24-27
April 27
Develop Methodology/LCA
EditD3 and MergedD1-4
ReportTo TSAG
March 4 Merge
FinalDeliv’
Quality Assurance Review
Quality Assurance Review
Hiroshima Cont’b on D3
QA Review
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Who Contributed to the first meeting?
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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
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Radio and Climate Monitoring
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
Measuring sea level by radio remote sensor from satellite with precision of 2-3 cm
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Radiocommunications for Adaptation and Mitigation
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
Environmental data obtained by radio-based remote sensors are used for climate change prediction and taking preventive measures to minimize its negative effects
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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 and opportunities 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
I NEED ITU’sHELP!
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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
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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.)
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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 Clean
Development Mechanism
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“Climate Change is a global challenge that the world cannot lose.”
Dr Hamadoun I. TouréITU 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
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More information
ITU Activities on Climate Change http://www.itu.int/climate
or by contacting us at:[email protected]
InternationalTelecommunicationUnion
Thank you for your attention!
International Telecommunication Union