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Joint UNEP/Industry Sector Initiatives
Previous UNEP/Industry Sector Initiatives
Context and UNEP's involvement
A number of information and communications
technology service providers and suppliers participated
in the Global e-Sustainability Initiative, which began in
early 2000 with the original proposal for a global initiative
coming from UNEP, the International Telecommunications Union
(ITU), the European Telecommunication Network Operators
Association (ETNO) and North American members of the Communications
Environmental Excellence Initiative (CEEI).
The founding members agreed on proposed objectives and
activities for the first two years of the initiative. These
included issues such as environmental management, corporate
reporting, outreach and the role of information and communication
technology in advancing sustainable development. The official
launch of the initiative was held on 5 June 2001, linking
with celebrations in Torino (Italy) of World Environment
Day under the theme "Connect with the World-Wide Web
of Life".
Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI)
GeSI brings together leading ICT companies
– including
telecommunications service providers and manufacturers as
well
as industry associations – and non-governmental organisations
committed to achieving sustainability objectives through
innovative technology.
GeSI works is focused in several key areas.
Working groups for each of these areas meet regularly –
often virtually via video or teleconference – to set
objectives, develop strategy, create tools, implement programmes
and
discuss progress.
- Climate change: To develop a methodology
and standards to
measure and cut the carbon footprint of the ICT sector,
and
enable other industries to reduce their emissions through
innovative technology.
- Supply chain: To promote good conduct
and develop or improve
tools, management practices, processes or systems to assist
each participant and their supply chain in dealing with
CR supply
chain risks.
- E-waste: To promote take-back and create
tools to ensure
electrical and electronic equipment is disposed of responsibly
at end-of-life, and materials are reused or recycled
wherever possible.
- Standardisation: To work with others to
develop common
industry standards in key areas such as energy efficiency.
- Public policy: To engage with policymakers
to promote the
contribution ICT can make to sustainability.
- Communication: To raise awareness of GeSI
and the
ICT sector’s contribution to sustainability among
external
stakeholders and inform them about our activities.
For more information visit the GeSI
Official Website.
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