UN chief urges IT firms to think green

The general secretary of the United Nations has called on IT companies to address the amount of greenhouse emissions they produce, and to lead other industries by example.

Ban Ki-moon said during a speech at the ITU telecoms event in Geneva that IT firms are responsible for two to three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Reuters report.

"But they can also reduce emissions in other sectors by at least 15 per cent, " he added. "This means they can be significant in our fight against climate change."

Ki-moon explained that, as well as reducing their own emissions, IT vendors could produce solutions that help groups and organisations to address climate threats. A good example, he said, was the installation of 5,000 weather stations across Africa by mobile phone companies and other partners.

"The weather stations will monitor the impact of climate change. When there is news, we will be able to transmit it immediately to farmers' mobile phones. We hope to reach as many African farmers as possible, because seven out of 10 Africans rely on farming to survive," he said.

Earlier this month US publication Newsweek released its list of the top 500 green businesses. It should be some consolation to Ban Ki-moon that four of the top five places were taken by IT firms.

Leading the table was HP, which was applauded for its green policies.