Overall ICT Footprint and Green Communication Technologies (Invited Paper)

Green communication technologies currently receive a lot of attention. In this paper we give an overview of the environmental issues related to communication technologies en present an estimation of the overall ICT footprint. Additionally we present some approaches on how to reduce this footprint and how ICT can assist in other sectors reducing their footprint. I. I NTRODUCTION In its communication 'Addressing the challenge of energy efficiency through Information and Communication Technolo- gies' the European Commission states(1): Information and Communication Technologies have an important role to play in reducing the energy intensity and increasing the energy efficiency of the economy, in other words, in reducing emissions and contributing to sustainable growth. In order to achieve the ambitious targets set and meet the challenges ahead, Europe needs to ensure that ICT- enabled solutions are available and fully deployed. With this statement the commission acknowledges the op- portunities Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has to offer in reducing the energy intensity of the economy but also points out that ICT needs to lead by example in increasing its energy efficiency. This increase in energy efficiency needs to take place in a rapidly expanding sector. Currently the transmitted data volume increases by a factor of approximately 10 every 5 years. In this paper we elaborate on the environmental footprint of ICT and the possibilities ICT has in environmental footprint reduction. We will demonstrate that this environment footprint encompasses more than only energy efficiency. Then, we assess this footprint and discuss some strategies to mitigate it.