Environment, EMF & circular economy
ITU-T Study Group 5 (SG5) is the lead study group on electromagnetic fields (EMF), environment, climate action, sustainable digitalization, and the circular economy.
The international standards (ITU-T Recommendations) and related texts developed by SG5 provide guidance and specifications for the safe and sustainable use of information and communication technology (ICT), including ICT products (e.g., mobile phones), equipment (e.g., adaptors, cables) and installation (e.g., small base stations, data centers).
SG5 also develops international standards promoting the use of ICT for accelerating a sustainable digital transformation and climate change adaptation and mitigation actions in cities and rural communities, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement, and the Glasgow Climate Pact.
SG5 standardization work on ICT safety, reliability, EMF, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) consists
of:
- Supporting governments, the ICT sector, and relevant stakeholders to protect their ICT systems and equipment from disturbances caused by external physical phenomena, such as from neighbouring electric power systems and electric traction systems, electromagnetic effects, lightning, and high-energy neutrons from cosmic rays.
- Providing EMF guidelines for assessing EMF levels and verifying compliance with existing EMF guidelines and limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Providing specifications and guidance for satisfying the current and future EMC requirements to ensure the safety, protection, and continuous operation of ICT equipment and services.
SG5 standardization work on ICT sustainability, climate change, and environmental efficiency consists of:
- Supporting governments and the ICT sector to adopt and enhance e-waste management systems.
- Defining solutions to move from a linear economy to a circular economy and capture the new value created by the circular economy, from designing with sustainability in mind to avoiding waste, and facilitating their recovery and reuse during their end-of-life phase.
- Identifying the environmental and energy efficiency requirements for ICTs and providing technical solutions and methodologies for assessing their environmental performance.
- Providing trajectories, solutions, best practices, and targets to help the ICT sector moving towards decarbonization and net-zero emissions.
- Providing smart energy systems and solutions to reduce energy demands and build up the adaptability and resilience of ICTs.
- Supporting the deployment of sustainable and resilient ICTs in rural communities and developing countries.
- Promoting the achievement of circular and sustainable cities and communities.
To ensure that standards developed by SG5 are cohesive and technically aligned with other existing standards or guidelines, SG5 works closely with other standards bodies, United Nations organizations, field specialists, and relevant stakeholders, including, ETSI TC EE, ISO, IEC, UNIDO, UNFCCC, UN Environment, WHO, the Secretariat of the Basel Convention and more.
