Introduction

GREEN TIC is a project co-funded by the LIFE financial instrument of the European Union, coordinated by Fundación Patrimonio Natural de Castilla y León, together with the Partners Fundación San Valero (Aragón) and Ayuntamiento de Logroño (La Rioja).

The proyect will be developed from 2013 to 2016 with the objective of demonstrating and quantifying the great CO2 emissions reduction potential of better and smart use of information and communication technologies (ICT), both reducing the sector carbon footprint and promoting the use of ICT for better environmental services (enabling effect).

The study of the Climate Group “Smart 2020” reports that in 2007, the total footprint of the ICT sector – including personal computers (PCs) and peripherals, telecoms networks and devices and data centres – was 830 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, about 2% of the estimated total emissions from human activity released that year. Even if the efficient technology developments outlined in the rest of the chapter are implemented, this figure looks set to grow at 6% each year until 2020.

The carbon generated from materials and manufacture is about one quarter of the overall ICT footprint, the rest coming from its use.

On the other hand, the ICT sector has a powerful role to play in tackling climate change by enabling other sectors, such as transport, buildings, power and industry, to become more efficient. ICT and social networking services provide new opportunities also for the environment, involving citizens or providing solutions for environmental problems.

The GREEN TIC project tries to demonstrate that Green ICT policies and strategies, Green public procurement and smart use of ICT can contribute to reduce CO2 emissions.