Stephen Young
Climate change and telcos
The terrible devastation caused by Katrina, whether or not it was related to climate change, has highlighted the vulnerability of infrastructures - including telecoms - to extreme weather events. When it comes to climate change, telcos have a role to play, not just by protecting their networks and reducing their carbon emissions, but by providing services to help reduce emissions in other sectors. Comment: Global warming, or climate change, is one of the most pressing problems afflicting the planet, and most of us agree that something needs to be done. Telcos are not major contributors to climate change, but their activities do have impacts - some negative, some positive. Many telcos are already suffering the effects of global warming, due to the increasing number of severe weather events. In June 2005, BT's chief executive Ben Verwaayen said that climate change resulting in gales and floods had already caused substantial damage to BT's UK operations and cost the company money, with the situation only set to get worse. Clearly, no telco is immune from the weather. BT is now part of an influential group of blue chip companies that is lobbying politicians to address the problem. Telecommunications is less energy-intensive than many other industries, but some telcos have already woken up to the economic and environmental benefits of reducing energy use. The European Telecommunications Network Operators association (ETNO), which acts as a lobby group for Europe's telcos, has produced both an Environmental Charter and, in September 2004, a Sustainability Charter. Many telcos are already implementing specific actions. Of course, saving emissions by reducing energy use is also likely to save money: a compelling proposition as oil prices ascend to record heights.Telecommunications has a major role to play in reducing travel, through services such as tele and video-conferences, teleworking/telecommuting, Internet services such as e-commerce, e-government and distance learning, as well as new services, as yet undreamt of. Broadband and widespread Internet use are eroding the boundaries around conventional TDM telecoms services, reducing the need for people to travel and produce greenhouse gasses.Telcos are punching below their weight in the climate change arena - they can be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Telcos will find it hard to avoid being victims of climate change, but they can reduce their role as villains; and they might even turn out to be heroes. Ovum will shortly be publishing a report on Climate change and telcos
