While ICT accounts for around 2% of global carbon emissions, it can also play a key role in saving time, energy and money. In the actual circumstances, where the damaged done to the environment must be stopped and reversed immediately, the future can only lead to a green approach. The technologies that have determined serious environmental problems are also the ones that hold the key for a safer, healthier and a more responsible future. The central characters are played by large corporations and governments, the consumers holding the supporting act. Redefining our goals, our activities and our needs to be done accordingly to the principles of consumption moderation, responsibility and care for the environment.
Some important issues to be discussed at Global Forum are:
- The Carbon Cost of ICT and its Inefficiencies
- The Potential of ICT to Further Sustainability in all Fields of Human Activity
- The Role of Governments in Environmental Sustainability
- Sustainable Public Procurement
- Measuring the Real Cost of ICT— Cost and Environmental Impact of the Technology Life Cycle
- Energy Use in Telecommunications
- Reconciling Business Constraints and Environmental Responsibility — Green is Profitable
- The Role of Education in Green ICT
- Reduce the Energy Consumption of ICT and Leverage it for Sustainability
Participation: This session will be moderated by Mr. Dani Flexer, Datacenter Optimization Consultant, United Kingdom, and the main subjects will be debated amongst other important speakers from both the public and private sector such as by Mr. Varujan Pambuccian, Member of the IT Comission of the Romanian Parliament and Mr. Bruno Pennino, Marketing Executive for Public Sector, IBM North Est and South West Europe at IBM.
There is a definite need to identify and address critical sustainability issues from a whole, to examine the full life-cycle costs and insist on the transition from a predominantly material to an increasingly digital economy – including resource and capital cost implications. Nonetheless, how information and communication technology can be used to strengthen effective community-based, participatory planning, decision-making and implementation processes relating to sustainability and equitable development, focusing on the use of information exchange mechanisms that are accessible at a grassroots level are also of utmost importance. The solution is dependent on the actions of all players involved. Balancing between business interests and environmental responsibility, real needs and ignorant consumption, ICTs cost and energy saving activities is the first step to a greener future. Are all players involved ready to take this step?
Other resources:
Smarter technologies that reduce global emissions
Impact of technology on the environment
The latest climate legislation measures proposed in the US Government
Individual ideas for greener activities
