Information and Communication Technologies
Our SMART 2020 report showed that the ICT sector can reduce global emissions from all sectors 15% by 2020.
Today, 4 billion people have mobile phones. We connect to the internet to share information, work, socialise and shop. By 2020, this will grow to 8 billion. And not only will people become more connected, but 'things' too: there could be 50 billion machine-to-machine connections in 2020. This information will make climate change visible. It will help us monitor our impacts and emissions.
From smart meters to smart grids, we're working with members, like Google, and partners, like Cisco, to build on the enormous potential, and economic opportunities, of ICT in the low carbon economy.
Find out what has happened since SMART 2020.
SMART 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age
In 2008, our joint research with GeSi (Global e-sustainability Initiative) and McKinsey on the role of ICT in the low carbon economy made waves. We found that ICT can reduce emissions, from all sectors, globally by 15% by 2020.
ICT is responsible for 2% of global emissions today, from data centres, mobile networks, phones and PCs. But on the other, it can save up to 15% of emissions in 2020 in buildings, motors, the power grid and transportation. To do this, we will need energy and environmental information at our fingertips, to make saving carbon as easy as sending an email. We will use this information to enable energy efficiency and finding alternatives (such as videoconferencing) to carbon-intensive activities (such as travel).
In economic terms, the ICT-enabled energy efficiency translates into approximately €600 billion ($946.5 billion) of cost savings. It is an opportunity that cannot be overlooked.
Our reports
Our analysis identified some of the biggest and most accessible opportunities for ICT to achieve these savings. To find out more about opportunities, download the SMART 2020 report, produced by The Climate Group, GeSI and McKinsey in 2008.
The report identified 7.8 Gt CO2e carbon emissions abatement potential by 2020. The report has been translated into Chinese and Spanish. Follow-up reports also have been produced for the US and Portugal.
Policy groups such as the GSMA, Digital Energy Solutions Campaign, and ICT4EE in Europe are working with governments to show what the ICT sector can do, and also to take action on the challenging task of measuring the sector's own footprint.
The Connected Urban Development Alliance
We're partnering with Cisco on the Connected Urban Development (CUD) Alliance. This will build on the success of Cisco's Connected Urban Development Programme and the SMART 2020 report.
Why we're focusing on cities
Over 50% of the world's population already lives in urban centers. They're responsible for 60-80% of global emissions.
Complex systems - buildings, transportation, power distribution, waste and water - all intersect in urban centers.
We are just beginning to realise the potential of managing these systems with better communications and information technologies.
What we'll do
In the next few months, we'll engage our global network of corporate partners, cities and states to develop the CUD Alliance. In 2010, we'll formally launch our program.
Our aim is to set up urban demonstration projects across the globe. These will focus on transformational technologies, such as smart connected buildings, smart transportation, and smart grids.
To find out how to join the Alliance, please contact mwebb@theclimategroup.org.