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The known info on the rapid and hazardous global warming is that it is on the verge of causing an environmental and ecological disaster, inevitably resulting in unprecedented levels of coastal flooding, storm damage, and shoreline erosion; and that India too is not insulated from the catastrophic impact of global warming. But what is unknown for most people, is the dynamics of the global telecom industry getting influenced by this ongoing phenomenon of global eco-apocalypse.

It is widely expected that increasing awareness of the impact of global warming would contribute to growing demand for bandwidth, as more and more companies and individuals would prefer tele-or videoconference over face-to-face meetings that require extensive traveling cited as a big contributer to global warming.

It is also expected that more initiatives like the European “restriction of hazardous substances directive” and “waste electrical equipment directive” will be implemented universally. These directives limit potentially dangerous materials including lead, mercury, and cadmium in the production of various electronic and electrical equipments, and regulate their disposal which can considerably contribute to global warming.

Impact on the Industry
The end result is that this grave situation warrants telecom companies to act by developing bio-fuel operated base stations and improving portable fuel cell technologies. As the market evolves and these cells become the norm, wireless providers will have to incorporate these products as standard.

According to Diarmid Massey, “Indian companies are not really any better or worse than any others. The big difference, however, is the rate of growth in the ICT sector in India. The extreme speed of growth brings with it increased risk of environmental damage.”

The European Telecommunication Network Operators Association (ETNO) indicated in its 2006 sustainability report that if 20% of business travel in a major European country was replaced with an alternative like videoconferencing, CO2 emissions would be reduced by over 5 mn tonnes! The impact of meeting electronically, rather than physically, is substantial considering tens of thousands of multinational businesses across the globe.

The Vanco Survey
Vanco, a network service provider, has decided to conduct a survey-Vanco Arctic Survey-working in collaboration with the telecommunications industry. The survey will, for the first time, provide accurate data to estimate when the polar ice cap will have melted as a result of global warming.

“The extreme speed of growth brings with it increased risk of environmental damage” Diarmid Massey CEO, Vanco, Asia Pacific

Since Vanco does not own telecom structure, it has the freedom to provide clients with optimum global network solutions. Vanco enables companies to communicate across wide geographical areas quickly, reliably, efficiently, and securely. Vanco believes that the telecommunications industry has a unique and vital role in developing a sustainable world where economic growth can go hand in hand with environmental protection.

For this cause, the survey team will undertake a 120-day, 2,000 km crossing of the ice cap in temperatures as low as minus 50 degree Celsius. The team will depart from point Barrow Alaska, and on occasions even swim across stretches of open water, reaching the north geographic pole in June.

During the survey, starting from Feb 2008, the team will be using high-tech communication systems to transmit an exceptional variety of film, photography, and scientific data, giving access to the dramatic reality of polar exploration to the global audience for the first time-direct from the sub-zero temperature region.

The Vanco Arctic Survey will send out a wake up call for human beings, global industries, and political leaders around the world to take urgent steps needed to prepare humanity to face the consequences of global warming. Pen Hadow, a famous polar explorer survey to capture the most accurate data ever recorded on the thickness of the north pole ice cap which floats on the Arctic ocean.

According to Hadow, “Remote sensing instruments aboard submarines, aircraft, and satellites cannot measure separately the thickness of the ice and snow layers. This complicates the processing of the data. There is no substitute for taking the measurements directly from the surface of the ice cap, and, the Vanco Arctic Survey will try to do that.”

An international panel for climate change has predicted that sea levels will rise by 9-88 cm during the 21st century. This would have a devastating impact on the lives of millions of people across the globe. It is very crucial that people understand that what is happening in the Arctic region is having a significant impact on the rest of the world.

Since 1970, the production of green house gases has risen by more than 70%, causing changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels, desertification, and other long term disastrous effects.

The Telecom Industry's Duty
We know that throughout the world countries are Making efforts to first reduce and then cap global warming. But, what are the efforts being taken by the Indian telecom industry to save the environment? Currently, the ICT sector accounts for less than 3% of global greenhouse gas emission-but this number could more than double by 2020.

In developing countries like India, where growth of ICTs is over 10%, clearly this will double much sooner than 2020. So, the Indian industry regulators should act to minimize energy usage and ensure that renewable components are being used even more immediately in the country than in other parts of the world.

While the ICT industry has become a part of the cause of global warming, it has taken some initiatives as well to be a part of the solution. Promotion of carbon displacement technologies is undoubtedly one such initiative. One major contribution the ICT industry can make is the substitution of travel by electronic forms of communication such as telephone calls, emails, and videoconferencing. Not only this, the industry can also be a vital instrument to monitor the spread of global warming.

Take the case of the NTT Group. More than 90% of CO2 emissions are produced by electricity use. And this situation prompted the group to launch its Total Power Revolution campaign in an effort to reduce these emissions.

And, Contribution
Last year, our telecommunications carriers showed an approximately 1.6% increase in CO2 emissions due to expansion of facilities for broadband and mobile phone services. But, the NTT Group recognizes the urgency to continue with its initiative to deploy energy efficient equipments and implement other steps to achieve its emission intensity reduction target in a bid to contribute toward prevention of global warming.

As part of their global environment conservation strategies, the NTT Group companies contribute to 'Team Minus 6%', a national campaign launched by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6%. The project was created to honor Japan's commitment made in the Kyoto Protocol. The NTT Group is also promoting the use of low emission vehicles.

The Road Ahead
As India is also witnessing the severe impact of global warming, there should be increased focus on the kind of materials used in the construction of telecom equipments, better disposal management of these materials, and management of energy usage. The hard reality is that CO2 released into the atmosphere cannot be removed. So, the best way of countering it is to minimize the emission. And, Vanco is associating with the Arctic Survey to help emphasize how calamitous the global situation really is and help provide decisive indication to act immediately without wasting further time. Indian ICT companies too can play a lead role in curbing global warming.

Arpita Prem
arpitap@cybermedia.co.in