ITU approves one-charger-fits-all standard
INTERNATIONAL Telecommunications Union (ITU) has given its stamp of approval to an energy-efficient one-charger-fits-all new mobile phone solution. The announcement comes as ITU lobbies hard to have the essential role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) recognised in the draft Copenhagen Agreement as a key part of the solution towards mitigating climate change.
Every mobile phone user will benefit from the new Universal Charging Solution (UCS), which enables the same charger to be used for all future handsets, regardless of make and model. In addition to dramatically cutting the number of chargers produced, shipped and subsequently discarded as new models become available, the new standard will mean users worldwide will be able to charge their mobiles anywhere from any available charger, while also reducing the energy consumed while charging.
The new UCS standard was based on input from the GSMA, which predicts a 50 per cent reduction in standby energy consumption, elimination of 51,000 tonnes of redundant chargers, and a subsequent reduction of 13.6 million tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions each year.
Director of ITU's Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau (TSB), Malcolm Johnson said: "This is a significant step in reducing the environmental impact of mobile charging, which also has the benefit of making mobile phone use more straightforward. Universal chargers are a commonsense solution that I look forward to seeing in other areas."
Standardisation of the solution within ITU was completed by Study Group 5 - Environment and Climate Change, and will hasten broad adoption by industry. Based on the Micro-USB interface, UCS chargers will also include a four-star or higher efficiency rating - up to three times more energy-efficient than an unrated charger.
ITU's participation in the forthcoming UNFCCC Climate Change Talks in Barcelona (2-6 November) will stress the significance of ICTs as a major cross-sectoral tool in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A recent study estimated that more effective use of today's ICTs could help reduce total global emissions by 15 per cent by 2020, representing carbon savings five times higher than the estimated emissions for the whole ICT sector in 2020.
Since the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in December 1997, the number of ICT users has tripled worldwide, yet the importance of deploying ICTs to significantly cut emissions is not recognised in the current draft text.
Alongside partner agencies, and with the support of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, ITU will be working closely with conference negotiators in Barcelona to ensure the text that will be presented to the Copenhagen Climate Conference acknowledges the key role of ICTs in finding solutions to the climate crisis. TSB Director Malcolm Johnson will chair an event at the Barcelona Climate Change Talks on November 5 on 'ICTs and Climate Change', where ITU and OECD, in partnership with the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), will invite top decision-makers from world governments, international organizations and industry to share their views and innovative ideas on new ways of using ICTs to address climate change.
