Climate Action 2009-2010

TECHNOLOGY
Energy efficiency is key for achieving a low-carbon society.
ICTs 96
© Richard Cote/Fotolia
The learning and capabilities sub-group works to
enhance corporate responsibility capabilities in the
supply chain by developing training resources and
organising events to increase awareness of social and
environmental issues. GeSI continues to work with local
training organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders to
build capability among suppliers.
Policy developments in the supply chain are also carefully
monitored, especially as the past year has seen a dramatic
focus on extractives coming from US legislators and
NGOs. Members have issued several public statements of
support for the concerns raised in the supply chain area.
In addition, GeSI attended several stakeholder events
aimed at encouraging exchanges of views on how the
industry could best respond to NGOs’ concerns.
COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS
GeSI facilitates collaborative responses to best
represent the ICT industry. When submitting a response
or participating on a panel, members are encouraged
to speak not on behalf of their company, but as a
unified voice of the ICT industry. Before reaching that
point, especially when producing joint statements,
GeSI members work diligently to focus on the common
denominators of their positions and the overall objective
for ICT-driven sustainability.
The result can be powerful – GeSI members have also
joined forces with other industry associations such
as DigitalTech Europe and TechAmericaEurope to
respond to the EU Commission’s recently published
Recommendation on Energy Efficiency (October 2009).
By focusing on the key priorities and implications of the
Recommendation for industry, GeSI with the support of the
above organisations is collaborating within the context of
a three-year road map, the ICT for Energy Efficiency forum
(ICT4EE) already mentioned. This forum demonstrates the
sector’s motivation to move forward on its representations
that ICT offers solutions to climate change issues. Such
collaboration and aligned messages will facilitate clearer
communication with COP negotiators.
COP15
GeSI’s representation at COP15 events will be with the
ITU and the OECD, with a joint side event, ‘ICTs and
Climate Change’. The panel will consist of speakers to
represent the major regions as well as less developed
countries. At the COP15 conference in Copenhagen, GeSI
will be presenting with OECD’s ‘The Voice of Business’.
At the COP-15 negotiations, GeSI’s goal is, first, to
contribute towards getting ICT back on the agenda; and
secondly, to secure an understanding of reasonable
carbon reporting, measuring and monitoring emissions
for ICT products and services.
A FOCUS ON ICT-DRIVEN SUSTAINABILITY
GeSI members benefit from the association either by
being active in working groups, projects, studies and
position papers; or by participating in constitutional
meetings such as board meetings and semi-annual
general assemblies.
While other trade organisations offer their unique
advantages, and GeSI partners with several of them
GeSI is the only global association dedicated to helping
its members provide ICT-driven sustainable solutions.
Together, the Global eSustainability Initiative (GeSI)
members continue to drive their vision of how the ICT
industry can create a more sustainable society.
Author
Luis Neves was appointed Head of Sustainable
Development and Environment at Deutsche Telekom
Corporate Responsibility and as from December
1st 2008 he holds the position Vice-President
Corporate Responsibility. Luis is member of the
ETNO Sustainable Working Group. In March 2006
he was elected Chairperson of GESI, the Global
e-Sustainable Initiative. In August 2008 he was reelected
for a second term of office. Luis has been
playing a fundamental role in promoting the role of
ICT in relation to Climate Change.
Organisation
The Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) is an
international strategic partnership of ICT companies
and industry associations committed to creating and
promoting technologies and practices that foster
economic, environmental and social sustainability,
and drive economic growth and productivity. Formed
in 2001, GeSI fosters global and open co-operation,
informs the public of its members’ voluntary actions
to improve their sustainability performance and
promotes technologies that foster sustainable
development. Current members of GeSI include:
Alcatel-Lucent, AT&T, Belgacom, Bell Canada,
BT, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, European
Telecommunication Network Operators Association
(ETNO), France Telecom, HP, Huawei, KPN, Motorola,
Microsoft, Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, RIM,
Sprint, Sun Microsystems, Telecom Italia, Telefónica,
Verizon and Vodafone. Associate members are the
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and World Wildlife
Fund (WWF). GeSI partners with three organisations:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
and the World Business Council for Sustainable
Development (WBCSD).
Enquiries
GeSI Secretariat
c/o Scotland House
Rond Point Schuman 6
B-1040 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 282 84 42 | Fax: +32 2 282 84 14
Email: info@gesi.org, katrinadestree@gesi.org
Website: www.gesi.org
VISIT: WWW.CLIMATEACTIONPROGRAMME.ORG