Greentech Lead Asia: Broadband networks can assist in
achieving low carbon-economy and address the causes and effects of climate
change, according to a new report by the Broadband Commission for Digital Development.
“Addressing climate change implies completely
transforming our way of life, the way we work, the way we travel, shifting our
model of development to a fairer, more sustainable model to ensure our
survival. We need to put at stake all the resources available to us, and
mobilize the political will to turn discussions and negotiations into
agreements and actions,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Toure.
The report provides practical examples of how broadband
can contribute to reducing greenhouse gasses (GHGs), mitigating and adapting to
the effects of climate change, and promoting resource efficiency, while at the
same time building more prosperous and inclusive societies.
“The understanding of the benefits that broadband
can bring is at a global tipping point. Its role in GDP growth, in enabling the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and offsetting the effects of climate
change is just now starting to be understood, because finally the deployment is
there and the benefits can be realized. In today’s economic climate, societies
need to develop, and with a solutions-driven approach to climate change, we can
accelerate a new type of green growth while supporting global sustainable
development goals,” said Hans Vestberg, president and CEO, Ericsson and
Chairman of the Broadband Commission Working Group on Climate Change.
In the lead-up to the 2012 United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June, the report presents ten recommendations
from the Broadband Commission for policymakers and global leaders to hasten and
strengthen the power of ICT and broadband to accelerate global progress towards
a low-carbon economy.