Exploit ICT to reduce global warming: Nokia Siemens Networks at COP15

Unique role of telecoms and computing to support all industries in efforts to be more energy efficient; work required to achieve enabling regulation.

Stephan Scholz, the chief technology officer of Nokia Siemens Networks, virtually joined the COP15 summit to emphasize the unique ability that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has to foster environmentally sustainable development.

“ICT is fundamental to measuring and directly improving energy efficiency across all industries, including its own, which makes it different from all the other industry sectors”, Scholz said during his presentation for the ‘iSeeT@theClimateChangeKiosk’ exhibition at the UN Climate Change Conference. Demonstrating its potential, Scholz gave his presentation “virtually”, via TelePresence from Espoo, Finland.

“The potential of ICT to have a positive impact on climate change has been recognized by many global studies*, but this understanding has to be brought to the attention of governments for them to take this into consideration when defining environmental policies. In a favorable business environment, maximizing the positive impact of ICT supports environmentally sustainable development and makes other sectors more intelligent“, Scholz said.

In line with this thinking the company recently announced that it is using its existing portfolio combined with new partnerships to address opportunities in the energy sector. The energy sector can benefit from the technologies and expertise gathered from the telecommunications sector and apply it to make power grids more intelligent and efficient, reducing the overall need for power.

“Besides taking and sharing the intelligence of ICT with other industries, we are constantly working on minimizing our, and our customers’ carbon footprint*. Around 86 percent of energy used by a mobile operator is consumed by their network, which is also a significant cost factor. We have the industry’s most comprehensive range of Energy Solutions for telecoms operators, which highlights our long commitment to this topic”, Scholz concludes.

The iSeeT@theClimateChangeKiosk exhibition space gives an opportunity to share information about ICT-related projects undertaken by governments, the United Nations and other inter-governmental, non-governmental and media organizations on their own or with private sector partners. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is contributing to the exhibition by a special program of daily "business talks" by leaders in the ICT sector.