Transformation in the way people and businesses use technology could reduce annual man-made global emissions by 15 percent by the year 2020 and deliver energy efficiency savings to global businesses of over 800 billion dollars, according to a new report published by The Climate Group and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative.
According to the sources here on Saturday, the report 'Smart 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age' is the world's first comprehensive global study of the information and communication technology (ICT) sector's growing significance for the world's climate.
The report shows that while ICT's own sector footprint, currently two percent of global emissions, will almost double by 2020, ICT's unique ability to monitor and maximise energy efficiency both within and outside of its own sector could cut CO2 emissions by up to five times of this amount. This represents a saving of 7.8 giga-tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2020, greater than the current annual emissions of either the US or China.
Although tele-working, video-conferencing, e-paper and e-commerce are increasingly commonplace, the report notes that replacing physical products and services with their virtual equivalents (dematerialisation and substitution) is only one part (six percent) of the estimated low carbon benefits the ICT sector can deliver.
Far greater opportunities for emissions savings exist in applying ICT to global infrastructure and industry and the report examines four major opportunities where ICT can make further transformational cuts in global emissions. These exist globally within smart building design and use, smart logistics, smart electricity grids, and smart industrial motor systems.
Comments
Comments are closed.