Information and communication technologies (ICTs) and ... - ITU

Towards a better environment: An ITU perspective
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the specialized agency of the United Nations
responsible for information and communication technologies (ICTs). Its membership, comprising 193
governments, over 700 private companies and 40 academic institutions, has called for ITU to take the lead
in engaging the global community (including countries, the UN system and the ICT industry, as well as
academia and NGOs) to address climate change through the use of ICTs.
Today, a world without ICTs is unthinkable. ICTs are integrated into almost every part of the world society
and economy. Yet, while the increasingly widespread use of ICTs has changed people’s lives dramatically and
boosted economic growth, ICTs themselves, due to this success, are a growing contributor to greenhouse
gas emissions. On the other hand, they probably provide the most significant opportunity to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions in the major high emission industries of energy generation, waste disposal,
building and transport. This is a message we must carry to the Conference of Parties of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
We are committed to working in partnership with other organizations to contribute to the fight against
climate change by reducing GHG emissions. We will also help communities, countries and regions to be
better prepared to cope with any unavoidable effects of climate change.
This report came about as a follow-up to the Sixth Symposium on ICTs, the Environment and Climate
Change, held on 7-8 July 2011 in Ghana. It has been jointly commissioned for the ITU and key stakeholders
in Ghana, including the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology,
and the Environmental Protection Agency in cooperation with UNFCCC. The actions, if followed up, would
reduce emissions and educate local communities in ways to promote adaptation to climate change.
Whilst this report focuses on Ghana, many of its principles and findings are applicable throughout Africa
and beyond. The ITU would be happy to advise other nations or regional organizations on ways to promote
capacity building via ICTs, tailor them to minimize their environmental impact and use them to reduce
emissions in other sectors of industry. With its worldwide membership, ITU is well placed to provide
internationally agreed standards and policies that governments can apply to tackle climate change.
Malcolm Johnson
Director, ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau
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