Ericsson partners with WWF Sweden
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00)
Written by Administrator
Thursday, 14 May 2009 00:00
The pair will work together to develop new solutions and promote the “climate-positive” concept to other innovators within the information and communications (ICT) sector. The concept implies that new solutions can be developed that effectively reduce the carbon footprint of the ICT industry.
The collaborative effort is focusing on three specific areas: integrating low-carbon ICT solutions within city climate change strategies, methods for calculating carbon reductions, and support for solutions that promote sustainable business practices.
“Society faces a huge challenge to drastically reduce CO2 emissions by 2050, while the world economy will as much as triple,” said Elaine Weidman, vice president of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Ericsson. Weidman made her remarks at the announcement of the new partnership.
“Ericsson has a vision of using telecommunications to foster a more carbon-lean society,” continued Weidman, “and we would like to see ICT and telecom on the agenda for the global climate negotiations in Copenhagen later this year, as a viable means of helping policy makers and governments when it comes to reaching their carbon emissions targets. The opportunities for broadband to dematerialize and streamline the economy are almost unlimited.”
The ICT sector is responsible for about 2 percent of total carbon emissions in the world. Ericsson and WWF Sweden believe the industry has the unique ability to reduce the carbon footprint of the rest of the world by 15 percent. The pair believes that other economic sectors can be encouraged to adapt ICT technologies that reduce carbon emissions.
The partnership will also explore ways to determine how ICT companies can support emissions reductions in low carbon economies – resulting in a “climate positive” influence. The concept implies that the net effect of implementing ICT solutions results in saving more carbon emissions than are produced internally.
“This partnership is an example of how innovative climate work in the 21st century can look,” said Dennis Pamlin, global policy advisor at WWF Sweden. “Together with Ericsson, we can approach the need for reduced emissions as an opportunity, and the urgency for rapid reductions as a driver for innovation and profit.”
“This is especially important in this economic crisis when significant resources are being allocated into infrastructure investments,” continued Pamlin. “During the coming months we will explore and promote the use of innovative carbon-lean solutions which can help businesses, industries and governments reduce their carbon emissions and shape a low-carbon economy.”
Cities can include carbon reduction strategies within urban investment. New urban development can drive investment in smart grid technology, for example. Transportation, heating and cooling, and lighting can all be delivered in an efficient manner that promotes sustainable development.
Ericsson and WWF Sweden have been working together for seven years. The announced partnership builds upon that experience. Throughout the rest of 2009 the pair will work together to get ICT within the agenda for discussion at the forthcoming climate discussions in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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