Millennium Development Goals EnvironmentAL A REVIEW OF .

7MDG #broadband seriesmillennium development goalsenvironmentALsustainabilitySEPTEMBER 2012A REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTALSUSTAINABILITY IN NATIONALBROADBAND policies– GLOBAL OVERVIEW AND CASE STUDIESON AUSTRALIA AND RWANDAa contribution to the

ABOUTThis case study is part of a series of studies being undertaken by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnershipwith the Broadband Commission to take an in-depth look at the state of broadband development. This series of case studiesunderlines the importance of broadband and ICTs in accelerating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)by 2015, and aims to assist countries in meeting the Broadband Challenge and Targets adopted by the Broadband Commission inOctober 2011.The studies are available online and free of charge at www.itu.int/broadbandThe Broadband Commission for Digital Development is an initiative set up by ITU and the United Nations Educational, Scientificand Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in response to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s call to step up efforts to meet theMDGs. Launched in May 2010, the Commission comprises government leaders from around the world and the highest-levelrepresentatives and leaders from relevant industries and international agencies and organizations concerned with development,providing a fresh approach to UN and business engagement. To date, the Commission has published two high level policy reports,as well as a number of best practice documents and case studies.More information about the Commission is available at www.broadbandcommission.orgDISCLAIMERThe information contained in this publication was provided by the authors and contributors to the case study, and does not engageor necessarily represent the opinions of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the membership and staff of ITU and UNESCO, or the Broadband CommissionSecretariat.All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means whatsoever, without the prior writtenauthorization of ITU or UNESCO. Denominations and classifications used in this publication do not imply any opinion concerningthe legal or other status of any territory or any endorsement or acceptance of any boundary. Where the designation “country”appears in this publication, it covers countries and territories.Printed atInternational Telecommunications UnionPlace des NationsCH-1211 Geneva 20SwitzerlandSeptember 2012

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis case study has been prepared and funded by ITU [*], and has been based on the information included in ITU ICT Eyeregulatory database, as well as on a preliminary paper produced by Dr. Raul L. Katz, Director of Business Strategy Research at theColumbia Institute for Tele-Information and Adjunct Professor in the Finance and Economics Division at Columbia Business Schooland Dr. Pantelis Koutroumpis, Fellow at the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information.[*] ITU team involved in the preparation of the case study included Jose Maria Diaz Batanero, Gemma Newbery, Chelsea Haines,Lucas de Moncuit, Anna Polomska, Veronica Aleotti and Matthias Verstraeten.We would like to thank the governments of Australia and Rwanda for their collaboration in the revision of this case study, as well asthe following experts who have contributed through their comments to the final version (listed alphabetically by organization):Elaine Weidmann (Ericsson), Alice Valvodova and Luis Neves (GeSI), Gabriel Solomon (GSMA), Paul Budde and Dennis Pamlin(independent consultants), Carlos Martinez, Peter Gibson (Intel), Phillippa Biggs, Youlia Lozanova and Nancy Sundberg (ITU),Regis Gatarayiha (Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency), Richard Heeks and Angelica Ospina (University of Manchester, Center forDevelopment Informatics).For additional information on the initiatives presented in this case study, visit the ITU ICT Eye regulatory database (available athttp://www.itu.int/ITU-D/icteye/) and the Broadband Commission’s on-line repository of information (available atwww.broadbandcommission.org/sharehouse). All are welcome to access this content, and to submit further contributions.

CONTENTSEXECUTIVE SUMMARYi1ICTS, BROADBAND AND ENVIRONMENTALSUSTAINABILITY12ACCELERATING MDG7 THROUGH BROADBAND63INCLUSION OF ENVIRONMENTALSUSTAINABILITY IN NATIONAL BROADBANDPOLICIES164AUSTRALIA: LONG TERM ICT ANDENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITYSTRATEGIES235RWANDA: LONG-TERM ICT ANDSUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIESFOR ACHIEVING DEVELOPMENT GOALS326CONCLUSIONS41

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThis study is part of a series of studies being undertaken bysector by, for example, improving the energy efficiency ofthebroadband infrastructure –as well as the power artnership with the Broadband Commission to take an in-or by tackling the growing concern of e-waste;depth look at the state of broadband development. This series Promoting broadband and ICT-enabled applications toof case studies underlines the importance of broadband andincrease the environmental sustainability of other sectorsICTs in accelerating the achievement of the Millenniumby, for example, reducing resource consumption –inDevelopment Goals (MDGs) by 2015, and aims to assistparticular energy consumption- through the use of smartcountries in meeting the Broadband Challenge and Targetsgrid technologies, promoting environmental monitoring oradopted by the Broadband Commission in October 2011.reinforcing education about environmental sustainability.This case study complements previous work in the area ofThe review conducted in this study indicates that, in generalICTs and sustainability by looking at the potential and existingterms, when it comes to leveraging the potential of broadbandcontributions of broadband towards the achievement oftoMDG7, which targets environmental sustainability, includingcountries tend to focus on carbon abatement strategies,reducing CO2 emissions, improving access to water andwhereas developing nations envisage the use of broadbandsanitation, reversing biodiversity loss and improving the livesto reinforce the preservation of biodiversity and promote eco-of slum dwellers.friendly development. In particular, countries within theTarget A of MDG7 is the integration of the principles ofEuropean region are taking the lead in the use of teleworkingenvironmental sustainability into national policies and(also known as telecommuting) and smart technologiesprogrammes. The review of progress towards this targetwhereas the most referenced broadband-enabled solutionhighlights the limited progress in this regard – particularly inpromoted in the African region is the distribution of content tonon-environmental sectoral policies. The third chapter of themanage the environment and to educate about environmentalstudy presents a global overview of the inclusion ofsustainability. This could provide a reference for countriesreferences to environmental sustainability in nationalwho are preparing, or reviewing, their broadband policy as tobroadband policies, in essence providing an assessment ofthe type of applications that can be promoted through policy-the achievement of Target A within the information andmaking to advance environmental sustainability in eachcommunications technology (ICT) sector. Of the 193national context.countries reviewed, 119 were found to have a broadbandThe review conducted also indicates that many policies havepolicy, 34 per cent of which contained a reference tonot advanced in defining metrics, targets and implementationenvironmental sustainability. The assessment presents thestrategies to measure the success and effectiveness of theirnature of inclusions of environmental sustainability thatpolicies. On this regard, many of the references described aregovernments are prioritising and establishes two broad areaspresented in a descriptive narrative of “good-to-have”of action:initiatives. In the context of MDG7, the improvement of promotesustainabilityImproving the environmental sustainability of the gh-incomeenvironmentalandbiodiversity losses and improving basic sanitation and accessi

to drinking water. These principles have not been addressedin a holistic context in any of the plans analysed.The final two chapters of the study review in detail twocountries, Australia and Rwanda, who have featuredenvironmental sustainability as a key element in their nationalbroadband policies. These two countries have complementedthese references with further relevant references to ICTswithin their national environmental policies, showcasing thetype of collaboration across governmental agencies that isrequired to leverage the unique opportunities that broadbandcan provide to accelerate the achievement of MDG7 at anational level.To maximize the potential of broadband for progressingMDG7 and environmental sustainability, next steps require aconcerted effort by all stakeholders. Long term monitoring ofthe outcomes of the projects outlined in this case study willprovide a wider scale opportunity for tracking progress andidentifying tools that encourage the implementation of plansand policies, promote investment and overcome barriers.Finally, the adoption of a standardized set of methodologiesto measure the overall impact of ICTs and broadband on theenvironment could be considered for new and future revisionsof these policies.ii

1ICTS, BROADBAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITYEnvironmental sustainability has had a prominent role in theIn this context the World Bank defines environmentalglobal political agenda since 1972, the year of the Unitedsustainability as ensuring that the overall productivity ofNations Conference on the Human Environment. 40 yearsaccumulated human and physical capital resulting fromlater significant progress has been achieved in defining a setdevelopment actions more than compensates for the direct orof agreements that further define the concepts and principlesindirect loss or degradation of the environment3. Productivitythat should be incorporated into sustainable national policiesand technological change being closely connected, theand practices (see Figure 1a). During that period the impactconsensus is now that technology should be promoted toof technology on the environment was demonstrated 1 anddecouple economic growth and environmental degradation. Inthough initially technology was seen as a threat, that viewdoing so, technological progress can both aid and guarantee2was reversed though the 1990s .that this evolutionary process will continue in favour and notat the expense of the physical environment.FIGURE 1a TIMELINE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE UNITED NATIONSConference/BodyKey outcome(s)1972UN Conference on the Human EnvironmentDeclaration on the Human Environment (Stockholm Declaration)Creation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)198248th plenary of the UN General AssemblyWorld Charter for Nature1983 1987World Commission on Environment and Development(WCED or Brundtland Commission)Report Our Common Future4 (1987)1992UN Conference on Environment and Development(UNCED or Earth Summit 1992)51997Special Session of the UN General Assembly to Review andAppraise the Implementation of Agenda 21(Earth Summit 1997 or Rio 5)6Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 212000UN Millennium Summit7United Nations Millennium DeclarationLaunch of the process to define the Millennium Development Goals2002World Summit on Sustainable Development(WSSD, Earth Summit 2002 or Rio 10)8Johannesburg DeclarationJohannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI)2012United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development(UNCSD 2012 or Rio 20)The Future We WantRio Declaration on Environmentand DevelopmentAgenda 21Rio Conventions opened forsignatureStatement of Forest Principles1United Nations FrameworkConvention on ClimateChange (UNFCCC)United Nations Convention onBiological Diversity (CBD)United Nations Convention toCombat Desertification(UNCCD)