ITU Symposia on ICTs and Climate Change

Since 1970, the production of greenhouse gases has risen by more than 70 per cent, and this is having a global effect in warming the planet, causing changing weather patterns, rising sea-levels, desertification, shrinking ice cover and other worrying long-term effects. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) foresees a further rise in average global temperatures of between 1.4 and 5.8° centigrade by 2030.

Climate change is a concern for all of humanity and requires efforts on the part of all sectors of society, including the information and communication technologies (ICTs) sector. Although ICTs contribute only an estimated 2.5 per cent of total greenhouse gases, this share is set to grow as usage of ICTs expands globally, growing at a faster rate than the general economy. ICTs are thus part of the cause of global warming, but they can also be part of the solution, for instance through the promotion of carbon displacement technologies. ICTs are also vital in monitoring the spread of global warming.

As part of a major new initiative on the overall topic of ICTs and climate change, ITU is organizing two Symposia on ICTs and Climate Change. The first will be held in Kyoto, Japan 15-16 April 2008, hosted by MIC Japan, and the second in London, UK, on 17-18 June, hosted by BT. These symposia will bring together key specialists in the field, from top decision-makers to engineers, designers, planners, government officials, regulators, standards experts and others.

Kyoto Symposium:

Dates: 15-16 April 2008
Venue: Kyoto International Convention Centre, Japan

10:00 – 10:30
Opening ceremony

The adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, in December 1997, represented a landmark in the attempts by the international community to combat climate change, and the limitations in greenhouse gas emissions agreed in Kyoto will start to come into effect in 2008. In the intervening decade, the number of users of information and communication technologies (ICTs) worldwide has tripled. Kyoto is therefore the best place to launch a new work programme aimed at investigating the role that ICTs play in causing global warming, but also in monitoring, mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Welcome address: Mr. Kiyoshi MORI, Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination, MIC Japan (Japan)
Keynote speech: Mr. Malcolm JOHNSON, Director, ITU-T
Opening remarks by Symposium Chair: Mr. Takashi HANAZAWA, Senior VP, Director, R&D Planning Dept, (Japan)

10:30 – 10:50
Coffee break

10:50 – 12:30
Session 1: Climate change: ICTs to the rescue?

Session Chair: Mr. Art LEVIN, Head, Corporate Governance and Membership Division (ITU)

Objectives:
The Kyoto Protocol came into force in 2005 and has been ratified by more than 175 countries. However, the agreed limitations on greenhouse gas emissions may not be achieved by all parties and, in any case, they may be insufficient to reverse the effects of global warming without an additional technological contribution. This session will provide an overview of the role of ICTs in the wider context of the efforts by the international community to implement the Kyoto Protocol and to commit to more ambitious reductions as part of the Bali plan of action.
The Bali roadmap for concerted action on climate change, TBC*, Ministry for the Environment (Indonesia) and chair of the UN Conference on Climate Change
Mr. Yasuhiro SHIMIZU, Senior Negotiator, Ministry of the Environment, Japan
Technology-based solutions to climate change, TBC*, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (USA)
ICT policy response to global warming, Mr. Tetsuo YAMAKAWA, Director-General, International Affairs Department, Telecommunications Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
The potential of video-conferencing to reduce travel, Mr. Jeff HURMUSES, President, China and Japan, Tandberg (Norway)
ITU background report on ICTs and climate change, Dr. Tim KELLY, Head, Standardization Policy Division, ITU-T

12:30 – 14:00
Lunch

14:00 – 15:40
Session 2: Corporate responsibility: Towards a climate-neutral ICT Sector

Moderator: Mr. Kenn CUKIER, Journalist, The Economist

Objectives:
It is estimated that the ICT Sector produces directly some 2-2.5 per cent of total emissions of greenhouse gases, and that this share will increase as ICTs make a larger contribution to the global economy. What can ICT companies – manufacturers, service providers, users – do to reduce their own carbon footprint? Which companies are showing leadership and exercising best practice?
Corporate responsibility on climate change issues, Mr. Mitsuo KOBAYASHI, Manager, Corporate Environment Affairs, Asia-Pacific, IBM (Japan)
The Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), Dr. Luis NEVES, GeSI chairperson and Senior Manager Corporate Sustainability and Citizenship Department, Deutsche Telekom (Germany)
Energy Efficiency Checklist, Mr. Dave FAULKNER, ITU-T Study Group 15 Q2/15 rapporteur, BT (UK)
The introduction of CoolCenter50 and System Integration LCA, Mr. Tetsuo TAKEMURA, Corporate Officer, Network Systems Business, Information & Telecommunication Systems, Hitachi, Ltd.（Japan）
Use of ICT technology for CO2 emission reduction, Mr. Atsuhisa TAKAHASHI, President, Corporate Environmental Affairs Unit, Fujitsu Ltd.（Japan）
World Economic Forum work on ICTs and Climate Change, Ms. Joanna GORDON, WEF (Switzerland)

15:40 – 16:00
Coffee break
16:00 – 17:30
Session 3: ICTs for monitoring climate change

Moderator: Mr. Hiroshi KUMUGAI, National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (NICT, Japan)

Objectives:
The science of climate change is made possible by the use of ICTs, for instance in remote sensing, telemetry, supercomputers for climate modelling etc. Large scale efforts to reduce emissions – for instance through reforestation, combating desertification, protection of wetlands etc – will require new investment, from both the public and private sectors, in ICT-based monitoring systems. What are the tools available and what further standardization effort may be required?
The WMO Information System (WIS) and Global Telecommunication System (GTS), Managing & Moving Weather, Water and Climate Information in the 21st Century, TBC*, WMO Expert Team on the WMO Information System (WIS) and Global Telecommunication System (GTS) Communication Techniques and Structure
Innovative financing mechanisms for combating climate change, TBC*, Climate Change team, World Bank
ICTs for innovative sensing and networking toward sustainable society, Mr. Hiroshi KUMAGAI, National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (NICT, Japan)
ICTs and Weather Forecasting, Mr. Muhammad HELMI ABDULLAH, Director, Corporate Communications Division, Malaysian Meteorological service
Remote sensing radio applications/systems for environmental monitoring, Mr, Alexandre VASSILIEV, Study Group Counsellor, ITU-R

17:30 – 18:00
Closing of Day One

Chairman’s Summary
Allocation of drafting responsibilities (as required)

RECEPTION (to be hosted by MIC Japan)

09:00 – 10:30
Session 4: ICTs as a clean technology

Moderator: Mr. Yoichi MAEDA, Chair, ITU-T Study Group 15 (Optical and other transport network infrastructure)

Objectives:
Although ICTs contribute to global warming, they can also help in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of other sectors. By replacing the need for travel, or by improving transport efficiency, ICTs help to reduce the carbon footprint of individuals and companies. With oil prices around US$100 per barrel and rising awareness of climate change, what opportunities does this create for using ICTs, especially telecommunications, for the abatement of carbon emissions in other sectors of the economy?
Using ICTs for remote collaboration/telepresence, TBC*, Global Policy and Govt. Affairs, CISCO (USA)
Green ICT services – Environmental impacts of outsourcing, TBC*, Board of Directors, Infosys (India)
Intelligent Transport Systems, Mr. Charles MOK, Ex-officio Member, Hong Kong Information Technology Federation
E-environment opportunities for ITU, Mr. Robert SHAW, Head, ICT Applications and Cybersecurity division, ITU-D
Environmental impact reduction via broadband service, Mr. Hiromichi SHINOHARA, Associate Senior Vice President Executive Director, Information Sharing Laboratory Group, NTT Japan
Contribution of FMBC to reducing carbon emission, Mr. Yutaka YASUDA, Vice President, General Manager of Core Technology Sector, KDDI (Japan)

10:30 – 10:50
Coffee break

10:50 – 12:20
Session 5: Towards a high-bandwidth, low carbon future

Moderator: TBC*

Objectives:
This session is intended as a panel discussion to follow on from session 4 and examine what level of carbon abatement might be achievable with greater use of ICTs. In particular, this session should examine what kind of targets might be established for the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through the use of ICTs and what contribution to this could be made by the implementation of relevant ITU Treaties and ITU Recommendations.
Telecom-based opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Dr. Karl MALLON, Director of Science and Systems, Climate Risk Pty Ltd (Australia)
Power consumption and energy efficiency of fixed and mobile telecom networks, Mr. Hans-Otto SCHECK, Senior Specialist, Nokia Siemens Networks (Finland)
OECD study of ICTs and Climate Change, TBC*, Working Party on the Information Economy, OECD
Human Development Report 2007, TBC*, UNDP
Climate change and ICT standardization, Dr. Yuji INOUE, President and CEO, Telecommunication Technology Committee of Japan
Evaluation of telework experience, Ms. Silvia GUZMÁN ARAÑA, Telefónica I+D (Spain)

12:20 – 13:30
Lunch

13:30 – 15:00
Session 6: Adapting to climate change

Moderator: TBC*, Foreign Ministry (Maldives)

Objectives:
Even if the Kyoto protocol commitments to limit emissions of greenhouse gases are met in full, there may still be a rise in global average temperature of up to 2° by 2020 with a consequent rise in sea levels and in the occurrence of extreme weather events. Developing countries, especially small island developing states, are literally in the eye of the storm. How can ICTs help in adapting to the new environmental challenges? How can ICT-based projects for sustainable development, which generate carbon credits, be registered under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol?
Towards green corporations, TBC*, EcoResponsibility Programmes, Sun Microsystems (USA)
Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Ms. Sangeeta GUPTA, Director, IT and Services Division, TERI – The Energy Resource Institute (India)
Technological Actions on Climate Change (or Politics and Measures to Address Climate Change), TBC*, National Development and Reform Commission and National Coordination Committee on Climate Change (China)
ICTs in the aviation sector, TBC*, Asia-Pacific Regional Director, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
Disaster prevention monitoring in a vulnerable environment, Mr. Mahabir PUN (Nepal), winner of the 2007 Ramon Magsaysay award for community leadership
Mr. Makoto KAJII, Associate Executive Director, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
ICT strategy and solutions to over come climate change, Mr. Akira ARUTAKI, Associate Senior Vice President, NEC Communication Systems, Ltd. Japan
ICT electronic waste and exhaust emissions, Prof. D. M. TOTEV, University of Botswana

15:00 – 15:20
Coffee break

15:20 – 16:30
Session 7: Review and Wrap-up

Chairman: Mr. Takashi HANAZAWA, Senior VP, Director, R&D Planning Dept, NTT (Japan)

Objectives:
This review session will discuss the draft chairman’s report of the meeting (to be distributed before the coffee break) and any recommendations, and will review comments on the draft Resolution on ICTs and Climate Change for WTSA-08. The revised chairman’s report and draft Resolution will be forwarded for review by the second ITU symposium on ICTs and climate change, to be held 17-18 June 2008 in London, hosted by BT. The Kyoto recommendations will also be forwarded to upcoming meetings of the World Economic Forum, the OECD (in Republic of Korea), the G8 (in Japan) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Session 1 Chair: Mr. Art LEVIN, Head, Corporate Governance and Membership Division (ITU)
Session 2 Moderator: Mr. Kenn CUKIER, Journalist, The Economist
Session 3 Moderator: Mr. Hiroshi KUMUGAI, National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (NICT, Japan)
Session 4 Moderator: Mr. Yoichi MAEDA, Chair, ITU-T Study Group 15 (Optical and other transport network infrastructure)
Session 5 Moderator: TBC*
Session 6 Moderator: TBC*

16:30
Close of meeting

Contact: [email protected]

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