Climate Action 2011-2012

of ICT solutions in other business sectors can reduce total
global emissions by as much as 15 per cent. These savings are
five times larger than the total expected emissions from the
entire ICT industry – and with more focus on transformative
solutions this contribution could be significantly larger.
Examples of sectors where transformative solutions can help
reduce emissions by 80 per cent or more include:
• Smart transport. Radio tags can be attached to items in
a cargo and their journey tracked from manufacturer to
warehouse and to shop. This makes it easier to move goods
and stock more efficiently. Using ICT could help cut carbon
emissions from distribution and transportation by 1.52 billion
tonnes. ICT can also facilitate decentralised and on-demand
production that reduces the need for transport and storage
to almost zero. In a similar way ICT can make commuting
much more efficient while teleworking is even better and can
support a much more resource efficient way of working.
• Smart grids. Connected electricity supply grids can be
controlled so that energy is sent to industries and homes in
the most efficient way, accelerating the uptake of renewable
energy. By 2020, this could reduce carbon emissions by two
billion tonnes. Smart grids can also support decentralised
renewable energy distribution and the accelerated uptake of
electric cars.
• Smart buildings. By using ICT in buildings for managing
light and heat systems, resource consumption can be adapted
to match demand in real time. Smart buildings could save
1.7 billion tonnes of emissions. ICT can also help a shift in
approach where connected buildings in cities become net
producers of renewable energy.
ShifTing focuS To SoluTion
providErS
It is now widely recognised that incremental solutions, those
that marginally reduce emissions within current systems,
are important but far from sufficient. Still many forums
developing climate activities predominantly focus on the high
emitting sectors. Industry, including the ICT sector, is often
viewed as a polluter as opposed to a solution provider. It seems
that companies as solution providers are not yet fully heard,
understood or supported by those who can make a difference.
Incremental steps forward will not be enough to deliver
the results that are needed. It is imperative that we look
for an approach based on collaboration, innovation, equity
and what the planet needs. Instead of looking for ways
to avoid commitments it is time to create new clusters of
stakeholders delivering transformative solutions for climate
change. Work must begin in the key opportunity areas –
transport, buildings, energy and dematerialisation – to help
turn potential carbon reductions into reality. Transformative
solutions can be so resource efficient that nine billion people
can use them without destroying the planet. We now need
to move from potential to implementation and dramatically
reduce the time it takes innovative ideas to hit the market.
bE ThE changE you wanT To SEE
in ThE world
For a long time the focus in climate discussions has been on
incremental improvements and on the measures to be taken by
major polluters. This is important and should continue to be
an important aspect of the dialogue. However, it is also time to
Figure 1. The enabling effect of ICT in reducing
carbon emissions in other business sectors.
Source: “SMART 2020 – Enabling the Low-carbon Economy in the Information Age”, a report by GeSI and the Climate Group.
113 climateactionprogramme.org