Guadalajara ICT Declaration Transformative Low-carbon Solutions

The Guadalajara ICT Declaration Transformative Low-carbon Solutions was delivered by Hans Vestberg on behalf of the ICT industry by the Global E-sustainability Initiative (GeSI) at Cancun Mexico, in conjunction with COP16. There was also a supporting "ICT Solutions for a Low Carbon Future" paper detailing Mitigation, Technology Development and Transfer and Adaptation strategies.

A call for a solution perspective at COP16 and commitment from the ICT sector

We urge the negotiators in Cancun to:

1. Recognize and make full use of solution sectors (such as ICT), that through
their products and services can help in providing solutions which can significantly reduce emissions in order to avoid yet further climate change and
support adaptation.

- The ICT sector/undersigned companies commit to accelerate their efforts to
make available solutions, such as digital health and education, smart grids, remote working and intelligent transport systems, which use mobile and broadband connectivity to ultimately benefit all nations in the drive towards energy conservation and efficiency, and to continue work on its internal emissions at the same time.

2. Support the creation of a work stream with focus on transformative
low-carbon solutions from solution sectors (such as the ICT).

- The ICT sector commits to support a work stream with focus on transformative low-carbon solutions. We further commit to report back at COP17 regarding the possibility to accelerate uptake of transformative low-carbon solutions.

3. Support a global low-carbon ICT and broadband workshop to be organized under the auspices of the Global e-Sustainability Initiative and the
Broadband Commission for Digital Development and supported by regional
workshops. This activity would highlight government policy best practices in
enabling the solutions role of ICT. This could include a global science work-
shop to present the latest scientific findings and technological solutions on
1.5o-2.0oC pathways.

- The ICT sector commits to take part in driving and supporting such a workshop.

4. Recognize solutions with transformative potential in the negotiating text,
for example in the areas related to mitigation, the technology mechanism,
technology development/ transfer and adaptation.

- The ICT sector commits to engage on an ongoing basis in the climate change
negotiations and provide support and input regarding the possibilities to deliver mitigation and adaptation in new and resource efficient ways.

5. Support the development and adoption of an agreed methodology for
calculation and reporting of the positive impact of solutions, that companies
provide (including transformative ICT and increasingly broadband solutions)

- The ICT sector commits to work with the ITU-T Study Group 5 to help develop an international methodology and use it to quantify and report positive contributions in a coherent way.

6. Include ICT solutions in National Mitigation/Adaptation Plans and share
best practice.

- The ICT sector commits to support dialogues both nationally and internationally between Environmental Ministries, other relevant ministries and ICT companies about the potential of ICT for reducing CO2 emissions.

Guadalajara ICT Declaration For Transformative Low-Carbon Solutions is supported by GeSI. ...

Background

Although Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) contribute approx 2% of global carbon emissions, they play an important role in providing solutions that enable other industry sectors to reduce the remaining 98% of global carbon emissions.1 Studies clearly show that more effective use of ICTs can deliver tremendous CO2e savings. A collaborative effort of the public and private sectors is essential to leverage this potential.2

This Guadalajara ICT Declaration for Transformative Low-Carbon Solutions is a result of a public private dialogue in Guadalajara, Mexico 8-9 November 2010 stressing the innovative and strategic role that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions can play in the global climate change negotiations, and expresses the support of the ICT sector to the ITU

Resolution and Communiqué.

In addition, the 167 governments attending the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) held in Guadalajara, Mexico 4-22 October 2010 unanimously adopted Resolution WGPL/10 “The role of telecommunications/information and communication technologies on climate
change and the protection of the environment” and the “Communiqué on ITU’s call to Cancun: ICTs must be part of the solution”. In this communiqué, ITU urged COP16 delegates to look to the ICT sector, and take maximum advantage of the power of ICTs to reduce emissions worldwide.

Context

To date the principal focus of the global climate change negotiations has been on the initial CO2 emission reduction targets as agreed under the Kyoto Protocol, about 5% reductions.

Recent evidence shows it is now time to shift focus on piecemeal carbon emission problems to focus on solutions that can help to avoid emissions all together, or that can deliver significant reductions such as 30% or more by 2020.

In order to deliver on the promise of such transformative emission reductions, more engagement of strategic private sector innovation and technology is critical, as is supporting government planning and policies.

The undersigned believe that COP16 in Cancun can be a turning point in the global climate change negotiations by initiating a dedicated work stream for low carbon ICT and increasingly broadband solutions to play a transformative role in decreasing global emissions.

The ICT sector is fully committed to do its part in furthering this agenda, and actively engaging with governments and negotiators going forward.

1. See Smart 2020: http://www.gesi.org/ReportsPublications/Smart2020/
tabid/192/Default.aspx

2. On 19 September 2010 the report of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development was submitted to the United Nations Secretary General. This report contains a recommendation on employing Broadband to help combat climate change. Please see: http://www.broadbandcommission.org/index.html

From: Guadalajara ICT Declaration Transformative Low-carbon Solutions, Global E-sustainability Initiative (GeSI), 9 December 2010