4 May 2009: A study group to focus on information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the environment was created during the meeting of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG), which took place from 28-30 April 2009, in Geneva, Switzerland.

At the meeting, the TSAG agreed on how to distribute within the ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), work on ICTs and the environment, including climate change and recycling. Study group 5, which is currently the lead study group on electromagnetic compatibility and electromagnetic effects, was chosen as the lead study group on ICTs and the environment. Participants decided to rename it as the Study Group on Environment and Climate Change to reflect its new mandate, although it will also remain the lead study group for protection against electromagnetic effects.
The new study group will consider issues relating to: methodologies for calculating greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from ICTs, as well as the GHG emission reductions achieved in other sectors through the use of ICTs; the creation of an energy efficiency framework in the ICT sector; methodologies for power feeding to effectively reduce power consumption and resource usage; and methodologies that reduce the environmental impacts of ICT facilities and equipment, such as recycling. The next meeting of the study group will be held from 25-29 May 2009, in Geneva, Switzerland. [ITU press release]