News

The conference examined the role of ICTs in improving environmental quality throughout society, supporting increased sustainability outcomes and contributing to “green” economic growth on a broad scale.

Marcus Courtney, head of UNI Telecom, presented a labor perspective on

environmental issues along the ICT supply chain. Courtney offered

examples of the labor movement’s role in sustainable industry growth.

He emphasized that sustainability is a measure of performance on all

three of the outcomes of “people, planet and profit” and explained

the role that the supply chain can play in undermining sustainability

when harmful environmental and economic effects are borne

disproportionately by certain segments of the population (i.e., the

Global South). Courtney made a strong case for the growth of broadband

as an engine of quality-job creation and emphasized the urgent need to

link the right to a clean environment to other fundamental human and

workers’ rights.



View Marcus Courtney’s speech here:

http://itst.media.netamia.net/ict2009/demand/191



UNI Telecom President Bo Larsen spoke about innovative ideas for

“Green ICT” policies to improve environmental and sustainability

outcomes. Larsen explained the sector’s particular interest in

strategies to address energy use and the challenge of unpredictability inherent in an industry based on innovation and technological change. The ICT sector has been grappling with these issues since the IT bubble burst nine years ago. After witnessing massive job losses, those involved in the sector began to discuss long-term sustainability. Larsen highlighted the human capital development needed to train workers for new, more sustainable jobs. Larsen also advocated the development of worldwide high speed broadband and recommended that governments take a lead to spur this development.



View Bo Larsen’s speech here:

http://itst.media.netamia.net/ict2009/demand/214



View the OECD’s Recap of the event here:

http://www.oecd.org/document/15/0,3343,en_2649_34223_40472783_1_1_1_1,00.html





View the Conference Programme here:

http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/3/56/42831262.pdf