Statement on the final report of the working group preparing an ICT climate and environment strategy

CSC considers the planned ICT climate and environment strategy a major step forward and supports the recommendations laid down in the final report. CSC also appreciates the emphasis the report puts on the international dimension and supports wide circulation of the report among international partners.

CSC values the acknowledgment of the binary role of the ICT sector in the report: on one hand, the sector causes GHG emissions (carbon footprint); on the other hand, it creates solutions for reducing emissions (carbon handprint). Therefore, it is important to consider the impact of the sector as a whole paying attention to energy consumption, energy sources, carbon offsets and the positive impacts on climate alike.

CSC considers the most important recommendations of the report to be the ones related to making ICT infrastructures more climate and environmentally friendly. These have to do with promoting energy efficiency, use of carbon-free energy sources and utilisation of waste heat. Another important angle in the report relates to better utilisation of emerging technologies in creating solutions for reducing GHG emissions in various sectors.

It is good that the report also discusses the climate and environmental impact of data economy, especially when it comes to ensuring that energy consumption is taken into account when designing programmes and services. In order to increase the carbon handprint of the ICT sector, it is also important to ensure efficient and wide cross-sector availability of high-quality data for the purposes of research and development aiming at reducing emissions.

CSC hopes that Finland will promote the comprehensive approach taken in the report also when creating legislation and funding criteria at the EU level. When it comes to national implementation, CSC emphasises the importance of systematic monitoring, clear division of responsibilities, adequate incentives and a cross-sectoral approach.

Read the whole statement here (in Finnish)