ICT Sector in India Sees Potential in Reducing Carbon Footprint

Strategic Insights -

The Indian ICT sector, comprising 26 corporations, non-profits, and think tanks, has formed an alliance to promote the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in reducing the country's carbon footprint. The sectormembers, including companies such as ACC, CISCO, Dell, Infosys, and Tata Teleservices, aim to leverage ICT's potential to reduce emissions in various industries. The ICT sector in India has a relatively small carbon footprint of 2%, but its use in other industries has the potential to reduce emissions by many times its own direct footprint.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Indian ICT sector has formed an alliance, called DESC India, to promote the use of ICT in reducing the country's carbon footprint.
  • The alliance comprises 26 corporates, non-profits, and think tanks, including major companies such as ACC, CISCO, and Infosys.
  • The ICT sector in India has a carbon footprint of 2%, but its use in other industries has the potential to reduce emissions by many times its own direct footprint.
  • ICT has the potential to reduce emissions in industries such as power utilities and iron and steel, by developing mitigation action plans.
  • The new generation ICT equipment has the potential to create jobs for blue-collar workers, particularly in India, where the population has a high potential for growth.
  • The emphasis is on leveraging ICT's potential to reduce emissions and create employment, rather than just generating white-collar jobs.
  • Mr. Bedi, a key figure in the alliance, has stated that ICT could play a key role in meeting India's pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 2020.

Statistics:

  • The ICT sector in India has a carbon footprint of 2%.
  • The use of ICT in other industries has the potential to reduce emissions by many times its own direct footprint, of 98%.
  • Japan has reduced its carbon emissions by 10% after introducing an energy reform policy.
  • The Indian ICT sector has the potential to reduce emissions in various industries, including power utilities and iron and steel.
  • The projected reduction in carbon emissions by 2020, with 2005 as the base year, is 25% for India.

Sources:

  • United News of India
  • Syndigate.info