The Green Economy. Everywhere you look, companies and governments are urging us to think about the environment -- to act Green. Switch off the power, use low-voltage lights, recycle your waste, buy local products, get a smaller car, don't fly as much…
But how does all this affect ICT? What impact do the telecoms and IT industries have on the environment? And what role can ICT play in helping alleviate the problems?
Energy-related CO2 emissions will increase 45% over the next 20 years. The world is on course for a doubling of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by the end of this century, resulting in a 6 degree rise in average temperatures.
The power generation and transport sectors contribute over 70% of the projected increase in world energy-related CO2. But Information Technology and Communications companies are not guilt free.
It is estimated that the ICT industry consumes up to 3% of the world's energy and emits up to 3% of CO2 emissions - doubling every 5 years.
ICTs are the great enabler of modern society, helping people communicate across distance and across cultural divides, facilitating trade, and providing access to vital resources – especially in health and education.
Forecasts estimate that they could help cut emissions by 15 to 40% – by enabling intelligent transport systems, smart buildings and better supply chain management, for example.
Over the next 12 weeks, TelecomTV will be taking the most detailed and in-depth look yet at sustainable and environmentally-aware ICT solutions, applications and business models.
And we want YOUR feedback. Send us your news, opinions and views, because this is only the start of the Green Planet project – we’ll be re-editing this material, adding new footage, and compiling a 60-minute documentary film for broadcast in October 2009.
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