WCIT-12 Enshrines Environmental Sustainability in Global ICT treaty

Delegates at WCIT-12 have sounded global agreement on the need for the next phase of ICT development to prioritize environmental sustainability, reaching consensus on the inclusion of a provision targeting “energy efficiency and e-waste” in drafts of what will become 2012’s set of International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs). A provision of Article 8 encourages Member States to cooperate in adopting best-practice energy efficiency and e-waste policies, regulations and business practices. In the language of what will soon be an international treaty, “Member States are encouraged to adopt energy efficiency and e-waste best practices taking into account relevant ITU-T Recommendations.”