icts, itu and climate change

InternationalTelecommunicationUnion

ICTs, ITU and Climate Change

Arthur Levin, Chief, Operations and Planning Dept, TSB, ITU

(ITU-T)Session 3: Hot Standardization Topics

Fiji, 4 July 2011

The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the ITU or its Membership.

June 2011

Committed to Connecting the World

June 2011


Climate Change Impacts in FijiWhat the IPCC 4th Assessment Report has found: Coastal erosion, water resources and human

settlement on Pacific small islands will be at increasing risk with changes in temperature, rainfall and sea level rise. Accelerated coastal erosion, saline intrusion into freshwater sources and increased flooding from the sea may cause large effects on human settlements. Less rainfall coupled with accelerated sea level rise compound the threat on water resources.

Beach erosion is prevalent due to sea level rise and human clearing of mangroves (1960s-1990s)

It has been shown that port facilities would experience overtopping, damage to wharves and flooding of the hinterland if there were a 0.5 m rise in sea level combined with waves associated with a 1/50 year cyclone.

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The Challenge in the Pacific Impact of CC is costly even though Pacific

Islands are not a major source of emissions Total GHG emissions of Pacific Island

countries is around 0.03% of global total Typhoon/hurricane damage will increase

by 10-26% for each 1 degree warming of sea

Half the population of island countries live with less than a mile of their coastlines; coral atolls no more than 3 meters above sea level

Impact of CC on marine environment, particularly on coral reefs, fisheries ad food security

June 2011


Looking Ahead to COP-17 COP-17: 28 November - 9 December 2011, Durban

(South Africa) Bonn, June 2011: Fiji calls international community for concrete

legally binding commitments beyond 2012 (Kyoto Protocol) – Mr. Peceli Vocea, Fiji’s Ambassador to the European Union and Belgium

Linking ICTs with the Cancun Agreements: The role of technology is already well recognized in the

UNFCCC process (through the Technology Mechanisms and the Climate Technology Center and Network – CTCN- established in the Cancun Agreements)

Innovation and the transfer and dissemination of technologies, including ICTs, is key to both mitigation and adaptation.

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By driving down emissions in the ICT sector itself By driving down emissions in the ICT sector itself11

By cutting emissions and raising energy efficiency in other sectors By cutting emissions and raising energy efficiency in other sectors 22

By helping countries adapt to the negative effects of climate change By helping countries adapt to the negative effects of climate change33

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Identifying priority sectors where ICTs can reduce emissions (e.g. smart buildings, intelligent transport systems, smart grids)

The promotion of NGNs (reducing power consumption by up to 40%)

Lifecycle analysis including disposal/recycling of ICTs

All new standards are now checked for energy efficiency

Green by ICT


2. Risk AnalysisIdentification of Indicators and Vulnerable areas to monitor

1. BASE LINE-Socioeconomic -Demographic -Infrastructure-Environmental….etc…

3. Monitoring

5. Activities in targeted areas

4. Early warning

Time

Disaster Management Time LineDisaster Management Time Line

Shock event

Applications of ICTs to Climate Change Adaptation

Applications of ICTs to Climate Change Adaptation

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ICTs at work for monitoring climate change

WMO World WeatherWatch, incorporating: Global Observing

system Global Telecom System Global Data Processing

system Remote sensing Environmental monitoring

Tsunami early-warning system

Digital climate forecasting models

GPS-enabled telemetry Ubiquitous sensor networks

June 2011


What ITU is doing to tackle climate change and protect the

environment?

June 2011


ITU-T created Study Group “Environment & Climate

Change” ITU-T Study Group 5 (April 2009)

New Working Party “ICT and Climate Change”

Continuing and expanding the work

of ITU-T Focus Group on ICT and CC

Next meeting will be held from

20 - 28 September, Seoul - Korea

All ITU-T study groups to examine impact of recommendations on climate change

June 2011


ITU-T SG5 established seven work areas

Coordination and Planning of ICT&CC related standardization (Question 17 of ITU-T SG 5)

Methodology of environmental impact assessment of ICT (Q18/5)

Power feeding systems (Q19/5) Data collection for Energy Efficiency for ICTs

over the lifecycle (Q20/5) Environmental protection and recycling of

ICT equipments/facilities (Q21/5) Setting up a low cost sustainable

telecommunication infrastructure for rural communications in developing countries (Q22/5)

Using ICTs to enable countries to adapt to climate change (Q23/5)


ITU-T Methodology

Common methodology for measuring ICT carbon footprint

Without, it will be impossible to provide meaningful comparisons

Helps to establish the business case to go green


6 Recommendations under preparation Overview and general principles, approved in February 2011

Covers definition of different types of environmental impacts, and general principles for the evaluation of ICT environmental impacts

Focuses on energy and GHG emissions

Environmental impact of ICT goods, networks and services Covers direct and indirect impacts of ICT Consent expected in September 2011

Environmental impact of ICT in organisations Includes 3 scopes of ISO 14064-1 Consent expected in September 2011

Environmental impact of ICT projects Consent expected in 2012

Environmental impact of ICT in countries Consent expected in 2012

Environmental impact of ICT in cities Consent expected in 2012

June 2011


Standard for a universal charger for mobile phones

“Universal power adapter and charger solution for mobile terminals and other ICT devices” (ITU-T Recommendation L.1000)specifies general requirementscovers charger for mobile phones

Future version will cover other ICT devices


ITU’s universal charger standard

… have this:Instead of this …

Recommendation rev. L.1000Approved June 2011 New

June 2011


Collaboration with UN Agencies

ITU with UNEP Basel Convention, United Nations University and in collaboration with SteP Initiative and the Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region (CEDARE) will carry out a joint survey on e-waste (July 2011)

June 2011


Raising Awareness Research & Publications

Technology Watch Reports Resources Website

Symposiums, Events and Workshops ITU Symposium in Ghana ITU Green Standards WeekWorkshop in Korea Joint Coordination Activity on

ICT&CC

June 2011


Using Submarine Communications Networks to

Monitor the Climate

This ITU-T Technology Watch Report gives an overview of how old and new submarine cables could be used for decades to come as a major resource and a real-time global network to monitor climate change and to provide tsunami warnings.Future generations of cables and associated components could have the capacity to directly measure climate variables, such as water temperature and salinity, as well as give pressure readings on the ocean floor.

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/techwatch/Pages/submarinenetworks.aspx

June 2011


ICT as an Enabler for Smart Water Management

Smart water management has become a key policy issue for the 21st century, as a growing number of factors are impacting the delivery of already scarce fresh water to millions of people.Economic growth, seasonal climatic conditions and rising population are all affecting availability of water resources. Moreover, a number of effects linked to climate change, such as lengthy droughts and extreme weather events, are worsening the situation.This ITU-T Technology Watch Report provides an overview of how ICT can be a strategic enabler for smart water management policies and surveys upcoming ICT standards that will enable smart water initiatives.

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/techwatch/Pages/smartwatermanagement.aspx

June 2011


ITU Symposium on ICTs, the Environment and Climate Change

Where: Accra, Ghana When: 7-8 July 2011 Objective: identify possible

goals, commitments and modalities of the ICT sector engagements to be developed in the process leading to the forthcoming 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17-CMP7), to be held in Durban, South Africa in November 2011.

Organiser

Host

Sponsors

…..including Remote participation

June 2011


ITU is organizing the first Green Standards Week from 5 to 9 September 2011 in Rome, Italy, hosted by Telecom Italia.

The Green Standards Week will bring together leading specialists in the field, from top policy-makers to engineers, designers, planners, government officials, regulators, standards experts and others.

The main purpose is to raise awareness of the importance and opportunities of using ICT standards to build a green economy.

General Information When: 5 - 9 September 2011 Where: Rome, Italy Participation is free of charge Discussions will be held in English only

http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/climatechange/gsw/201102/index.html

Organiser

Host

June 2011


ITU Green Standards Week 5 September 2011.: Workshop on Methodologies for Environmental

Impact Assessment of ICT will examine work underway to measure the impact of ICTs on climate change and how to standardize the way to calculate the reduction of GHG that ICTs have. Jointly organized with European Commission

6-8 September 2011: Workshop on Moving to a Green Economy through ICT Standards will explore how ICTs can help to address climate change and build a green economy, shedding light on standards, policies and best practices. High Level Segment with Ministers & CEOs

8-9 September 2011: Workshop on Using Submarine Communications Networks to Monitor the Climate, will aim to encourage the development of new technologies and standards and will explore business opportunities for telecommunication companies to become active players in monitoring climate change.

Jointly organized with WMO

June 2011


ITU Workshop on Progressing the Climate Agenda Through Green ICTs

Where: Seoul, Korea When: 19 September

2011 Objective: to move

forward the agenda on using ICTs to monitor climate change, mitigate and adapt to its effects.

Organiser

Host

June 2011


ITU-T established JointCoordination Activity (JCA)

Objectives:

to co-ordinate across ITU-T study groups

and with ITU-R and ITU-D

to seek co-operation from external bodies

including non-ITU member organizations

Next Physical Meeting: 28 September 2011, Seoul,

Korea (remote participation will be provided)

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Sponsors

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“The objective of this competition is to push contestants to think outside the box and develop concept papers for an ICT application that will be a valuable contribution to green ICT industry. Looking forward to receiving your creative and exciting ideas! ”

Malcolm JohnsonDirector, ITU

Telecommunication Standardization Bureau

Deadline – 15 July 2011

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Call to Action ICT plays a critical role for: Mitigation Adaptation Capacity building Technology transfer Overall ICT impacts every facet of

human life – it is a driving engine for socio-economic development

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Links & Additional Information

ITU-T and climate change http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/climatechange

ITU and climate change http://www.itu.int/climate ITU Symposia & Events on ICTs and Climate Change

http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/worksem/climatechange

June 2011


[email protected]

icts, itu and climate change

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