By Dominque Würges, Chair, ITU-T Study Group 5

Digital technologies are renowned for creating unprecedented efficiencies, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions across other industries. Yet their own energy consumption and environmental impact continue to soar.

Countries and organizations aim to achieve net-zero emissions while advancing sustainable digital transformation. Doing so requires understanding and mitigating the carbon footprint of digital technologies use across various verticals.

Standards set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) set out a promising path to mitigate climate impact both within our industry and beyond. The recent Green Digital Action Summit hosted by the ITU and the German Environment Agency (UBA), furthermore, enabled a valuable exchange of ideas on aligning environmental goals with digital innovation.

At the heart of this effort is the development and implementation of international standards that support measurable, impactful environmental action across the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.

Key energy and environmental standards

Key technical standards produced through ITU’s standardization arm, ITU-T, show the way forward for a green, energy-efficient, low-carbon future tech sector.

ITU-T Study Group 5, which leads ITU’s work on environment, climate action, circular economy and electromagnetic fields, has developed two key standards: ITU-T L.1472 and ITU-T L.1480.

Addressing tech-related impact

ITU-T L.1472 (forthcoming) provides the foundation to create a structured database on tech-related energy use and emissions worldwide. Crucial data would include energy consumption and emissions data from ICT organizations, national-level estimates based on reported data, and official government statistics.

This database will enable transparent reporting and better decision-making by providing policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders with reliable data on the ICT sector’s environmental impact.

To support its implementation, ITU plans to launch a pilot project to collect data in line with ITU-T L.1472. Countries and organizations are invited to participate in this effort, helping to build a reliable foundation for climate-smart digital transformation.

Enabling efficiency in other industries

ITU-T L.1480 provides the means to assess how tech-based solutions can enable emission and energy reduction in other industries. By assessing the net impact of ICTs on emissions, ITU-T L.1480 helps organizations and policymakers identify opportunities to deploy sustainable ICT climate solutions.

Why these standards matter

These standards are crucial to advance Green Digital Action – the initiative by ITU and partners across the global tech sector to ensure our industry helps address the climate crisis.

By supporting consistent data collection and transparent environmental reporting, these key ITU standards foster accountability and help drive innovation.

Applying these standards, furthermore, can help bridge the gap between digital innovation and environmental responsibility, enabling digital transformation that is not only smart but also sustainable.

Looking ahead

The next ITU-T Study Group 5 meeting, set for 3-12 June in Geneva, Switzerland, aims to further strengthening international cooperation around environmentally sustainable standards.

This meeting should advance work on emerging topics such as digital product passports, climate-resilient infrastructure, and key performance indicators for net-zero strategies.

I look forward to ITU members from across the global tech sector coming together to help shape the future of digital environmental standards.

Learn more and get involved

To learn more about how ITU standards are enabling environmentally sustainable digital transformation, visit ITU-T Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability.

For information on how to engage, visit Green Digital Action.

Header image credit: ITU (Green Digital Action Summit, Berlin, 23 May 2025).