What is this initiative about?
ICT-organisations from across the world joined forces to measure their energy consumption and carbon emissions according to several methodologies for footprinting goods, services, networks and organisations. The aim of this initiative was to test the workability and compatibility of the methodologies for footprinting in the ICT-sector. This business initiative was initiated by the European Commission DG CONNECT.
The overarching goal was to come to consensus within the global ICT-sector and converge towards a common methodological framework for the measurement of the energy consumption and carbon emissions arising from the production, transport and selling processes of ICT goods, networks and services. Establishing this framework is an important priority of the Digital Agenda for Europe.
Read more here
Why is it so important?
Although ICT can contribute to enabling a low carbon economy, the energy and carbon impact of the sector itself is significant. In 2007, analyst Gartner released the statistic that the ICT-sector was responsible for 2% of global carbon emissions 1. As the ICT-sector grows, the energy consumption and carbon emissions are also growing. A common footprinting methodological framework will support the calculation, monitoring and reduction of ICT-related emissions globally.
1 Gartner, Green IT: The New Industry Shockwave, presentation at Symposium/ITXPO conference, April 2007.
