H.E. Secretary General ITU Dr. Hamadoun Touré H.E. Ministers, Hon’ble delegates Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Morning !

I am indeed very happy to participate in the high level segment of 2008 Session of ITU Council meeting. We are pleased to note that ITU is taking all out efforts not only for the development and promotion of telecom services around the world but also on the issues relating to the common concern of the world – be it the achievement of the Million Development Goal through the deployment of ICT or mitigation of climate change. I am more happy to note that ITU, in a number of past meetings/seminars has been taking up the issues relating to the utilization of newer and newer technologies for undoing the adverse climate change.

Excellencies, if we think about the problems of global dimensions only two things come in our mind and these are :

1. how to spread the wealth and well being to the less fortunate economically backward population (about 15% of the humanity) and
2. how to prevent the growing environmental problems which are set to cause the global warming which may not only undo all the progress achieved so far but ultimately may question the very survival of the humanity.

With regard to the economic improvement of the bottom billion people, as a part of the Million Development Goal, I am pleased to note that the ITU has been doing serious efforts for the spread of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) across the globe to realize the benefit out of the truly information society. Information and knowledge are the energy of the brain of the people. We have already passed the half past mark of the targeted year of 2015 and I am sure that the speed with which ICT is penetrating in the under-served area, we will be able to roll out the ICT services across the world leading to the economic progress of the bottom billion people of the world. ITU deserves due appreciation for making all out efforts to empower the billion people through ICT.

The second problem of climate change – which also has a global dimension and seems to be very serious in nature. It is posing serious threat for the existence of the humanity. We need to view it in true perspective to find proper solutions of this problem for the very survival of humanity. We understand that ITU is taking all out efforts to use technology and ICT effectively for the mitigation of Climate Change. Present dispensation of ITU deserves appreciation for taking timely action on this account.

Excellencies,

I would like to mention here that the humanity is on the brink of a grand transition. We may compare it with emergence of agriculture some 20 thousand years ago and the industrial revolution two centuries ago. Climate has been very kind to humanity over the last 20 thousand years. One transition followed the other through an ever-changing evolutionary process. The three development phases – viz. Tool making, Agriculture and the Industry have all contributed for the development of humanity. However, the last and most vigorous transition emerged with the industrial revolution. It has catapulted humanity into a planetary development phase. Industrial revolution has brought about enormous progress of humanity in terms of urbanization, higher level of education and democracy. These developments were accompanied by ever-growing needs of resources including energy to sustain human well being and development. Putting it into true perspective, in the last two centuries, since the beginning of industrial revaluation, world population has increased six fold from 1 to 6 billion people. Economic out put about 70-fold. Amount of Energy consumption has increased by 35 folds (approx. with a square of the population increase) and the carbon dioxide emissions has increased about 20 folds. Climate change is the central aspects of adverse impact of human activities on the environment. The main challenge is to improve human well being while simultaneously mitigating the climate change.

The role of technology in achieving this double challenge is unique. Technology is one of the main contributor of increasing these greenhouse gas emissions. It is also an important part of the possible solution of both in mitigating global warming through the reduction of green house gas emissions and in helping adapt to its impacts. Technology was very important in catalyzing the historical drive of doing more with less – from increasing efficiency of factor inputs to reducing some of the adverse impacts of human activities – and at the same time important driving force of ever-higher per capita consumption levels. Thus, paradoxically technology is considered as the part of the problem and also part of the solution.

The quality, convenience and efficiency of provision of energy services has vastly improved over the last two centuries. However, the improvement potential is still very large. Only a fraction of the current global energy will be required to provide the same energy services if the best state-of-the-art technologies were used. The main energy related technology measures for reducing GHG emissions are efficiency improvements, decarbonization of fossil energy and a shift towards less carbon-intensive and zero-carbon energy sources.

Climate change is the global phenomena and therefore transnational action is required to mitigate it. The nineteenth century has cured two of man kinds oldest scourges- the slave trade and piracy on the high seas by transnational actions. I am sure that 21st century can do with the climate change also. Telecommunication & IT can play very important role in controlling climate change not only by making these services more and more energy efficient but also in undoing the adverse impact made by other sectors on the climates.With the growth of ICT, both technologically as well as in size, it has now become possible that instead of people going to the work, the work itself can go to the people. It is already in practice that the millions of people now telecommute at least one day in a week and particularly the knowledge workers can always work at home. Somebody has rightly said “What is the point of spending huge sums to bring a 200-lb body down town in office when all you want of it is its eight-and-a half pound brain ?” And possibly telecommunication and IT can play very important role in implementing this concept by standardizing a module for remote working. Besides this, telecom operators can deploy energy efficient networks and solutions. As we know, the energy constitutes the third biggest components of mobile operators OPEX and over 80% of it come from the network infrastructures. By improving energy efficiency in the network and using alternative energy sources, customers reduce dependency on oil and other energy sources which are threatened by escalating cost due to supply paucity. I am happy to learn that some of the Telecom and IT vendors have already built an impressive portfolio of green solutions and products which includes radio access energy efficiency solutions including products such as Base Stations which help cut energy consumption by up to 70% at site level and also improve energy efficiency in existing Base Station networks by upto 35-40% at site level. Using alternative energy such as solar and wind powered base stations some of the operators help in reduction of CO₂ emissions.

The Indian telecom sector has the opportunity to play its part in helping the country address its energy shortfall and at the same time reduce its global carbon footprint. For example, an average operator with 5000 base station site in Mumbai can save upto 5900 MHw of electricity and upto 4700 tons of CO2 emission by using energy efficient Base Stations.

Excellencies,

Reconciling climate protections with material development of our societies requires vigorous reduction of future emissions. This translates into a need for a fundamental energy transition resulting in almost complete decarbonization of the global energy system. The challenges are huge. There is a need for substantially increasing research and development activities to achieve not only near zero emissions of energy source but also higher access to cleaner energy services. The overall conclusion is that cleaner and climate friendly futures are not fundamentally more expensive than more polluting and warming world.

I am sure, ITU, as a technology knowledge bank, will drive R&D activities in the field of telecom and IT to achieve state-of-the art energy efficient telecom technologies and solutions not only to remain in the forefront but also to lead other sectors in their effort to achieve eco-friendly environment for all.