ITU-T L.1480 PDF

This Recommendation provides guidance for assessing how the use of ICT solutions impacts GHG emissions of other sectors, using a robust and sound methodology. The guidance is agnostic to the outcome of the assessment, whether it be an addition or an avoidance of GHG emissions, and addresses both positive and negative effects.

Specifically, the methodology provides guidance on the assessment of the use of ICT solutions covering the net second order effect (i.e., the resulting second order effect after accounting for emissions due to the first order effects of the ICT solution), and the higher order effects. Moreover, the methodology also distinguishes between effects associated with actual reductions of GHG emissions and lesser increases in GHG emissions, as well as between immediate and mid-term/long-term effects.

The methodology is provided for the following types of assessments:

• Assessment of the second order effect of one or several ICT solution(s) implemented in a specific context by the user of an ICT solution while also considering higher order effects.

• Assessment of the second order effect of one or several ICT solution(s) implemented at different scales, including at an organizational level (whether private or public organizations), at a city level, at a country level or at worldwide level, while also considering higher order effects.

• Assessment of the second order effect of one or several specific ICT solution(s) from the perspective of an ICT organization contributing to ICT solution(s) while considering also higher order effects. This includes:

o Assessment of the aggregated effect of all ICT solutions provided by an ICT organization across all customers;

o Assessment of the aggregated effect of one or more ICT solutions provided by an ICT organization across some customers;

o Assessment of the effect of one or more specific ICT solutions implemented in an actual context for a specific customer.

The methodology covers different depths of assessment, referred to as Tier 1–3. Each of these is associated with specific requirements on data quality and provides specific guidance for the consideration of rebound effects. Moreover, the Recommendation addresses assessments from three different time perspectives:

• Ex-ante, i.e., a prospective assessment taking place before the assessed operation period of the ICT solution(s);

• Mid-way, i.e., an assessment of a present situation during the operational life of the ICT solution(s);

• Ex-post, i.e., a retrospective assessment that takes place after the assessed operation period of the ICT solution(s).

Effects associated with increases of GHG sinks are not included in the present version of this Recommendation.