- Daniela Gutierrez-Torres
Intermediate
Event Organizer(s)
Description
This course aims to inform telecommunications policymakers and regulators, particularly those in emerging and developing markets, about the multifaceted relationship between mobile technologies and climate change. It also discusses how the mobile industry is reducing its own impacts on climate change while also enabling climate action in other sectors. Furthermore, it details how policymakers can facilitate climate action across the mobile ecosystem and beyond.
This course is designed for ICT policymakers and regulators, and may also be helpful to other important stakeholders, including energy and climate-related policymakers seeking to better understand how the mobile sector and connectivity contribute to climate action; and relevant international organisations and NGOs who are interested in the intersection between digital and mobile technologies and climate change.
This course is open to:
- Regulators
- Policymakers
- Representatives from academia and international organisations working on regulatory or policy issues
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Define the key drivers and impacts of climate change
- Describe how mobile operators are mitigating their climate impacts
- Recognize how mobile operators and suppliers can reduce emissions from the industry’s value chain
- Explain the opportunities for digital and mobile technologies to support broader action on climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Describe the policy and regulatory enablers that can help the mobile sector have maximum impact on climate action
The course consists of four sessions (six-hour synchronous sessions in two days), which include presentations and discussions relevant to the topic and case studies covering different regions.
A total score of 80% or higher is required to obtain the ITU certificate. The students will have to submit a written assignment (described below) to the platform and attendance at both training sessions will be mandatory and marked automatically on the ITU Academy platform via Zoom.
Please submit a brief essay (500-700 words) summarising the mobile and climate landscape in your country. For example, which mobile operators are in your country, and do they have climate targets? What plans does the government have to increase renewable electricity, and what options exist for corporates to buy or use renewables? Are there any other notable energy or climate challenges or opportunities in your country that could be relevant for mobile operators, e.g. energy access, outages? Please include any key sources/references.
The criteria to assess your final project are as follows:
- Originality of thought: Does your final project reflect originality of thought? Does it include original ideas on a specific aspect of telecoms policy or regulation?
- Quality of analysis: Have you analysed your chosen topic in-depth? Does your final project demonstrate independent analysis?
- Thoroughness and clarity: Have you conveyed your arguments in a clear and compelling manner? Have you fully and successfully developed your original idea?
- Data relevance and credibility: Does your final project contain gaps in the evidence presented? Does it contain references to credible sources for its facts and images?
Attendance is included in the total score, and distributed as below:
- Day 1 attendance and active participation 15%
- Day 2 attendance and active participation 15%
- Final project 70%
A total score of 80% or higher is required to obtain the ITU certificate.
Day 1 | 10:00 am–1:00 pm (GMT)
- Session 1: Introduction to Climate Change and the Mobile Industry
- Learn key concepts related to climate change
- Discuss the climate impacts of mobile technologies
- Discussions/Activities:
- FT Climate Game and discussion
- Key actions to get to net zero
- Session 2: Addressing the Mobile Industry’s Operational Emissions
- Discuss how the mobile industry can reduce its impacts on climate change
- Focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy
- Discussions:
- Factors that affect energy efficiency of networks
- Electricity systems and renewable energy
Day 2 | 10:00 am–1:00 pm (GMT)
- Session 3: Addressing the Mobile Industry’s Value Chain Emissions
- Understand the environmental impacts of manufacturing and disposing of mobile devices and networking equipment
- Explore how the mobile industry and its supply chains can move the mobile ecosystem towards a more circular economy
- Discussions:
- The role of different stakeholders in increasing circularity of mobile devices
- Session 4: Mobile Connectivity as an Enabler for Climate Action
- Explore the potential opportunities for mobile technologies and services to help reduce emissions across the economy
- Understand how mobile technologies can help make citizens and countries more resilient to the increasing impacts of climate change
- Discussions:
- Direct and indirect effects of digital technologies
- Five key policy changes to accelerate climate action
Registration information
Unless specified otherwise, all ITU Academy training courses are open to all interested professionals, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage registrations from female participants, and participants from developing countries. This includes least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.
