30 March 2009

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has released two studies that suggest today’s ICT solutions are capable of meeting the demands of today’s corporations, while also reducing CO₂ emissions.

“IT can be a significant driver of greenhouse gas reductions, but we need strong global climate policy to ensure these solutions are implemented at the speed and scale necessary to make a difference,” said Dennis Pamlin, a WWF policy advisor and co-author of the reports. “This research tells us that if relatively simple measures are implemented globally, we can achieve annual emissions reductions equal to at least half of current US total annual emissions by 2050. But we must start to walk in the right direction now, before it’s too late.”

According to the reports, which were independently authored by WWF together with academic experts and with funding support from HP and Microsoft, collaboration is fundamental to success in this area. It emphasises that business and policy makers can deliver a low carbon future, but they must work together to achieve meaningful results.

IT can be a significant driver of greenhouse gas reductions, but we need strong global climate policy to ensure these solutions are implemented at the speed and scale necessary to make a difference

Dennis Pamlin, WWF  The first report, Virtual Meetings and Climate Innovation in the 21st Century, highlights the significant impact employee travel makes on a company’s total carbon footprint – accounting for 50 per cent or more among non-manufacturing companies. The report suggests virtual meetings as an existing alternative that can increase the efficiency of business, while reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

“Creating a global network of more than 4,000 high quality videoconferencing studios in cities around the world would help build a new infrastructure for the 21st century and would cost less than one and a half airplanes,” Pamlin noted.

The second report, From Workplace to Anyplace, explores the opportunities to employ existing technologies that enable one or more individuals to work or collaborate remotely. The idea is to create new efficiencies and cut emissions created by daily commuting or business air travel.

The report also indicates that developed countries may deliver the majority of greenhouse gas emissions with increased tele-working in the short term, but developing countries can deliver the bulk of the reductions in the long term.

As part of this research, a carbon calculator for policymakers and businesses was developed and is available online.

The reports – Virtual Meetings and Climate Innovation in the 21st Century, and From Workplace to Anyplace – are both available online.

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