ITU‑T Study Group 5 is responsible for the development of standards on the environmental aspects of telecommunications/ICTs (including new and emerging) and protection of the environment, including electromagnetic phenomena and climate change.

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ITU‑T Study Group 5 will study how these telecommunications/ICTs and digital transformation can be shaped to ensure they support transitions towards more sustainable societies.

ITU‑T Study Group 5 will also study issues related to resistibility, human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF), circular economy, energy efficiency and climate‑change adaptation and mitigation. It will develop international standards (ITU‑T Recommendations), supplements and technical reports that support the sustainable use and deployment of new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs. Additionally, it will evaluate the environmental performance, including impacts on environment, climate and biodiversity, of new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs.

ITU‑T Study Group 5 is also responsible for studying design methodologies and frameworks to reduce the volume and adverse environmental effects of e‑waste and to support the transition towards a circular economy.

ITU‑T Study Group 5 will also develop international standards (ITU‑T Recommendations), supplements and technical reports to use the enablement effect of telecommunications/ICTs to reduce the climate impact of other sectors (e.g. energy, manufacturing, transportation and construction). Additionally, it will study evaluation metrics and methods for a sustainable digital transition, focusing on industries with high greenhouse gas emissions.

ITU‑T Study Group 5 has an extended role in evaluating the impact of ICTs in accelerating climate-change adaptation and mitigation actions, particularly in industries (including the ICT sector), cities, rural areas and communities. To this end, it is also working to develop standards and guidelines for building resilient ICT infrastructures and to develop assessment methodologies for the trajectories of the ICT sector in connection with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

In addition to its climate-focused activities, ITU‑T Study Group 5 has five other important objectives:

1. to protect ICTs (including telecommunication equipment and installations) against damage and malfunction due to electromagnetic phenomena, such as lightning, as well as from particle radiations;
2. to ensure the safety of personnel and users of networks in relation to electrical hazards existing in telecommunication/ICT networks;
3. to improve confidence in the use of radio frequencies by developing standards to assess EMF levels and to verify compliance with the World Health Organization recommended human exposure guidelines and limits;
4. to enhance the reliability and safety of telecommunication/ICT networks, by providing requirements on resistibility and electromagnetic compatibility, and addressing the effect of particle radiation;
5. to ensure that the functionality of telecommunication/ICT equipment is not compromised by electromagnetic interference related to radiated and conducted disturbances emitted by other electrical or communication systems.

ITU‑T Study Group 5 is responsible for studies on how to use new and emerging telecommunications/ICTs to tackle environmental challenges in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).