IDC Ranks the G20 Nations Using the ICT Sustainability Index, Quantifies the 2020 Greenhouse Gas Savings from Focused Use Of ICT

At a press conference today in Copenhagen, coinciding with the United Nations COP15 meetings, IDC announced the results from a special report on the role Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can play to curb almost 5.8 billion tons (GT) of CO₂ emissions by 2020. In addition to the results of the study, IDC released its first ICT Sustainability Index, in which the G20 nations have been ranked on their ability to reduce their CO₂ emissions through the focused use of ICT. Japan received the highest ranking in the Index and was identified as the only top-tier country.

The landmark research was conducted by IDC and jointly sponsored by Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, Intel, and Schneider Electric. The study examined the potential of seventeen technologies to reduce CO₂ emissions in four major economic sectors (Energy Generation and Distribution, Transport, Industry and Building) across the G20 nations.

Within the Energy Generation and Distribution sector, which has the biggest potential savings, Renewable Energy Management Systems (part of "Smart Grids") offer the best opportunity to reduce CO₂ emissions. The research also concluded that China has the biggest opportunity in this sector, with the potential to save almost 200 million tons of CO₂ using these technologies. Within the Transport sector, the leading investments in ICT would be within the supply chain logistics and private transport optimization. IDC has identified that the United States has the largest opportunity within this sector and could reduce its 2020 CO₂ emissions target by over 500 million tons.

ICT-based solutions for Buildings have as much CO₂ savings as the Energy and Transport sectors do. Energy Management Systems and Intelligent Building Designs offer up the most opportunity of all technologies or nearly 12% of all G20 energy savings. Finally, for the Industry sector, savings might be made using Intelligent Motor Controllers, with China having the largest opportunity to reduce the CO₂ emissions. "As expected, China and the United States have some great opportunities ahead of them,” said Roberta Bigliani, research director at IDC Energy Insights. "The use of software solutions offering energy management systems should be a key focus for them and all of the G20 nations.”

In announcing the results of the first ICT Sustainability Index, IDC Associate Vice President Chris Ingle noted that, “The Sustainability Index was created to allow nations to be fairly compared to each other on their ability to reduce CO₂ emissions and to sustain their economies and environments through the investment in and application of ICT solutions.”

The results of the ICT Sustainability Index showed that Japan was the leading G20 nation by a considerable margin over the United States (2nd), Brazil, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (tied for 3rd). Other national rankings included South Korea (11th), China (12th), India (13th), Russia (15th), and South Africa (19th). The full ranking list can be found in the report.

“Japan received the top spot by being able to balance its CO₂ creation and use, with its GDP, its transportation network, its building infrastructures, and its ICT investments, to establish a sustainable economy and environment,” said Vernon Turner senior vice president of IDC's Enterprise Infrastructure, Consumer and Telecom Research. “Special mention should go to Brazil for its strong position in the ranking as the leader from all of the emerging nations."

The ICT Sustainability Index is part of IDC's holistic Green initiative, designed to help decision makers understand the role of technology in addressing the challenges and opportunities amidst today's energy, environment, and sustainability requirements. Since being launched in 2008, the initiative has produced important research on data center power management and automation, the promotion of green procurement in Asia/Pacific, and document management policies in the enterprise. IDC's Industry Insights companies have also done ground-breaking research on how vertical industries from manufacturing and healthcare to retail and government can use the latest IT tools and services to support a company's overall green initiative. Finally, IDC's Green Recycling and Asset Disposal for the Enterprise (G.R.A.D.E.) certification process assesses the functions and tasks IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) vendors to ensure that they meet the strictest regulatory, security, and environmental standards.

Today's IDC press conference was recorded – on-demand replays are available at www.idc.com/climate/webcast.

For more information about IDC's ICT Sustainability Index or IDC's Green initiative, please contact Patrick Gorman at pgorman@idc.com.

About IDC

IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. For more than 45 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.

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