Improving energy efficiency

With the major growth of ICT occurring in emerging markets, it is vital the industry takes steps to ensure that growth is sustainable. Many places in emerging markets particularly, where mobile networks are expanding into rural areas, an electricity grid may not be available. Also even in some urban areas electricity supply is often unreliable, going off sometimes for many hours a day. Environmentally sustainable development is not only necessary for the planet, but also beneficial and vital for the future success thus calling for innovation that can provide cost-effective and ecologically-efficient solutions.

The communications industry is in a pretty unique position. Not only does it have the capacity to clean up its own operations, but it can also have a far wider impact on how other businesses and individuals impact on the environment. Strategic opportunities are available now for industry players who take the lead in improving environmental performance and leveraging communications to promote environmentally sustainable development.

Renewable energy can play a major contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. As an exampleVodafone has said that by 2020 it intends to reduce its energy consumption by 50% against its 2006/7 baseline. The company believes that this target will be achieved principally through improvements in energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy.

Working together to protect the environment

"Information technologies contribute 2 to 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. But they can also reduce emissions in other sectors by at least 15 percent," said Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Secretary-General, at a telecoms industry event in Geneva. "This means they can be significant ... in our fight against climate change," he added.

One of the most obvious uses for information technology and mobile phones is delivering information, which reduces the need for people to travel, for example to check the prices of crops in different markets, thus reducing their carbon footprint.

According to the latest Vodafone Policy Paper^*1 many small farmers in India say that mobile phones has brought greater convenience, the savings stemming typically from avoiding local travel. Around 65% of the survey respondents reported savings in travel time (as a result of owning a mobile phone), reflecting less travel as well as better organized travel – both contributing to a healthier environment as well.

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^*1 Vodafone Policy Paper, India: the impact of mobile phones