AeA calls for urgent EU action to reduce CO2 emissions through ICT
Advanced technologies to help meet 2020 targets, major new report finds

Brussels, Belgium & Washington, DC (September 17, 2007) – A landmark study released today by AeA Europe calls for urgent action, if ICT and advanced technologies are to reach their full potential in helping meet the EU’s 2020 climate change targets.

The report – ‘Advanced Electronics and Information Technologies: The Innovation-Led Climate Change Solution’ – has been produced by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency, alongside AeA Europe, and with input from many leading high-tech companies.

Covering all relevant sectors, the study looks at the overall impact of information and communications technologies (ICT) and advanced electronic devices on energy consumption, and how the high-tech sector can help achieve the EU goal of reducing energy consumption by 20% by 2020. Policymakers, researchers and members of the high-tech industry meet to discuss the report’s findings at a high-level event in Brussels, on 17 September.

James Lovegrove, Managing Director, AeA Europe, comments: “This report is a major contribution to the EU energy policy and climate debate. The findings suggest that with the right policy signals, advanced electronic and ICT technologies may even help surpass the EU’s 20% energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission goals helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change, at the same time enabling productivity gains. We look forward to working with EU decision-makers on this collective challenge.”

According to the report, since 1990, the EU’s economic growth has been decoupled from energy consumption, as a result of improved energy productivity. Much of this increased productivity has been generated by the adoption of advanced technologies.

Report author John A. "Skip" Laitner, ACEEE, explains: “We found the hi-tech sector is already enabling improved energy efficiency in a vast number of ways – for example in transport and building and construction. This ICT and advanced technology enabled path to increased energy productivity can continue into the future, but it is by no means guaranteed. To be realized, we need the support of an appropriate policy framework that encourages the development and uptake of such beneficial technologies.”

The report makes three specific policy recommendations, which would assist in achieving the goals of the EU Action Plan for Energy Efficiency. It calls on the EU to urgently:

• Publish a strategy outlining the energy saving benefits of advanced electronics and ICT, and how these can be used to accelerate energy savings across all economic sectors and in the home. This strategy could be part of the Energy Policy for Europe, and linked to other existing initiatives
• Encourage the public sector to adopt ICT and other advanced technologies that enable energy efficiency, through better procurement practices
• Support and promote R&D efforts and incentivize programs to develop technologies that enable energy efficiency

To arrange an interview with AeA Europe or ACEEE, or for further information, please contact: Matthew Willis, Blueprint Partners: +32 2289 0930 / matthew.willis@blueprintpartners.eu. 

For a full copy of the report, please request this by e-mail (Thursday) or visit (as of 17 September): www.aeanet.org/EUenergy.

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About AeA Europe
AeA Europe (formerly known as American Electronics Association in Europe) represents leading European high-tech operations with US parentage. Collectively, we invest Euro 100 billion in Europe and employ approximately half a million Europeans. AeA Europe Member companies are active throughout the high-technology spectrum, from software, semiconductors and computers to Internet technology, advanced electronics and telecommunications systems and services. Our parent company, AeA, is the oldest and largest US high-tech association (2500 + companies).

For more information about AeA Europe, see: www.aeanet.org/europe.

About ACEEE
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection. For more information, see http://www.aceee.org. ACEEE fulfills its mission by:

• Conducting in-depth technical and policy assessments
• Advising businesses, policymakers, and program managers
• Working collaboratively with businesses, public interest groups, and other organizations
• Organizing technical conferences and workshops
• Publishing books, conference proceedings, and reports
• Educating consumers and businesses

Projects are carried out by staff and selected energy efficiency experts from universities, national laboratories, and the private sector. Collaboration is the key to ACEEE's on-going success. We collaborate on projects and initiatives with dozens of organizations including international, federal, and state agencies as well as businesses, utilities, research institutions, and public interest groups.

Support for our work comes from a broad range of foundations, governmental organizations, research institutes, utilities, and corporations.

Quotes from report sponsors and AeA members

AMD:

“AMD is proud to be part of such a significant initiative aimed to help European Union to reach the 2020 European Energy Efficiency target, and we thank American Electronics Association Europe for offering us the opportunity to provide our expertise.”

“As recently highlighted in our seventh annual global climate protection plan AMD is constantly improving its global environmental efficiency, from how we run our corporate facilities to how we develop products that deliver superior performance-per-watt. By focusing on energy efficiency and the environment in every sector of our business, we’ve not only reduced our environmental impact, we are leading the world to energy-efficient processing from handhelds to the datacenter.”

- Per Bahr, Manager Public Sector, AMD EMEA

GE:

“At GE, we believe that the way to tackle the climate change challenge is through technology. That's why we launched ecomagination, which is our commitment to develop and drive the technologies of the future that will protect and clean our environment."

“However, there is no single technology. As this study shows, advanced technology products and services when linked to increased R and D and appropriate policies can provide energy savings. A portfolio of technology solutions should be used. GE strongly believes in the need for technology neutral policies that facilitate the early adoption of products and solutions - irrespective of origin - provided they fulfill the energy savings directive.”

- Ferdinando Beccalli-Falco, President & Chief Executive Officer, GE International

HP:

“As stated in the AeA report, ICT plays an important role in enhancing energy efficiency, not solely through making our own products more efficient, but by using technology to reduce energy consumption in everyday practices. This report illustrates how ICT can contribute up to 50% towards the overall goal of a 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020, as proposed by the EU’s Energy Efficiency Action Plan."

“HP has a long history of demonstrating leadership by investing in responsible energy use and delivering value to customers is not new to HP. The company´s broad portfolio of energy efficient products and services offers both sustainable growth for large-scale customers and a distinct competitive advantage overall.”

- Gabriele Zedlmayer, Head of Corporate Marketing and Global Citizenship, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

IBM:

"When it comes to talking 'green' - some people talk energy efficiency, some talk about saving the planet. IBM believes the two efforts are complimentary. The innovative application of IT technologies can radically transform and improve the productivity of energy utilization while achieving continued improvements in global standards of living. The AeA report offers constructive recommendations to facilitate the introduction and use of energy efficient IT technologies within the EU."

"With the many energy efficiency innovations being deployed in our products and services offerings and through our semiconductor process and design leadership, IBM is enabling innovative, leading edge energy efficiency solutions for IBM and its clients in industry and government to respond to the challenges of Climate Change."

- Mike Desens, IBM Systems and Technology Group Vice President for System Design.

Intel:

“Computers have helped us make huge strides toward a more efficient world today, with reduced travel, more productivity, online transactions and more. But with today’s latest energy-efficient technologies, we can do even more."

“The proliferation of ICT technologies is happening just at the same time that the EU faces a need to do more to improve the energy efficiency of its economy and to address the burgeoning challenge of climate change. This coincidence of timing is fortunate since ICT technologies have the ability to make a significant contribution to addressing climate change. What is needed, and what is highlighted in the report, is explicit government policies to promote faster adoption of new ICT technologies, and the adoption of supportive public policies that ensure those technologies contribute positively.”

- Pat Gelsinger, Intel Senior Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Digital Enterprise Group

Nortel:

"Nortel supports the work of the AeA because there is a need for a global call to action with respect to Energy Efficiency. The benefits of implementing a holistic energy plan are many and solutions and alternatives to current wasteful practices are available and practical. The nature of Nortel's business helps reduce adverse environmental impacts -- the use of networks for e-commerce and telecommuting reduces the need for travel, energy, raw materials and office space. Adopting and sharing best practices and lessons learnt from the public domain benefits Nortel from an industry and an individual perspective. This report will help us to better understand the impact of not adopting an energy efficiency policy and challenges all of us to be proactive for our future and our children's future. I welcome the discussion and engagement that this report will generate,"

- Rick Dipper, Corporate Responsibility Manager, Nortel.

Sun Microsystems:

"Sun fully supports the European Union in its goal to increase energy efficiency.
“We create technology to get more and more people connected, share, interact, and solve problems. And as participation grows, we are committed to building products that are dramatically smarter, safer, and more sustainable — from product and packaging design to power usage to our global take-back and recycling programs."

“For more information please visit www.sun.com/aboutsun/environment/index.jsp"

- David Douglas, Vice President Eco Responsibility, Sun Microsystems

This page was last updated on 09/18/07.