ITU urges COP 17 delegates to examine potentials of ICT

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has advised delegates at the up-coming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 17) to address the great potentials of ICT in cutting emissions across all sectors of the economy.

This call was made during the ITU Symposium on ICTs and Climate Change which held in Ghana, last weekend.

ITU in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet stated that there should be an approach to manufacturing and recycling in order to reduce the need to extract and process raw materials.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that ITU also asked for the recognition of the value of ICTs in monitoring deforestation, crop patterns coupled with other environmental phenomena.

ITU, Secretary General, Dr. Hamadoun Toure was quoted as emphasizing on the organisation’s commitment to provide the technical know-how to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

“… It's clear to observers that ICTs have a very cogent role to play,” he declared.

Equally, he said, recognizing the role ICTs at the international level would pave the way for solid argument for countries in rolling out climate change strategies with a strong ICT element.

Also speaking, the Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau at ITU said, a world without ICT in this era is unthinkable as it integrated into almost every parts of the society.

Malcolm also said the increasing use of ICTs have changed lives with a boost to the economic growth.

"The success of technology means it is itself a growing contributor to greenhouse gas emissions." he said.

He also said a message that must be carried to COP 17 is that ICTs is providing the most significant opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, waste disposal, building and transport.

Yinka Awosanya/LS

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