1. Putting the ‘Smart’ in the Green Economy
A perspective from the European
Commission….
Dr. Colette Maloney
Head of Unit
ICT for Sustainable Growth
Information Society and Media Directorate-General
European Commission
2. EU POLICY OBJECTIVES
3 TARGETS FOR 2020
1. 20% reduction in EU GHG emissions below 1990
levels
2. 20% renewable resources for EU energy consumption
3. 20% reduction in Primary Energy use compared with
projected levels, to be achieved by improving
Energy Efficiency
3. a smart green economy
• Smart buildings, smart grids, smart cities, …
enabled by ICT
- data and information
- control and automation
- dematerialisation
Key issues:
- how do we measure the benefits?
- how to avoid negative spillover?
4. EC Recommendation October 2009
• If we cannot measure and compare data – we are flying
blind
• ICT sector has committed to developing a common
framework for measuring the energy and carbon footprint
of its entire operations
• ICT4EE Forum launched by the industry in February
2010
5. Policy Context
● In Europe 80% of the population lives in
cities
● 50% of CO2 is produced in cities
● 80% of energy is consumed in cities
Cities are an ideal test bed for innovative solutions
addressing climate change
- in particular the 3 targets for 2020
6. Policy in the ‘pipeline’:
The European Smart Cities Initiative
– Main Objective: Bring 25 to 30 cities to the
forefront of the three European targets for 2020
– Sub- objectives:
• Take up of energy efficient Technologies by 5% of EU
population
• Reduce 40% of GHG emitted by 2020
• Effective spread across Europe
– Main components: buildings, energy networks
and transport (SET-plan Roadmap on Low Carbon
Energy Technologies)
– Budget (tbc): between 10-12B € for a period of
2010-2020
7. Policy Example
Green Digital Charter
Launched November 2009 - so far 21 big
cities signed up
- Intercity partnership on ICT and energy
efficiency by 2011
- 5 large ICT pilots per city by 2015
- 30% reduction in their ICT footprint by
2020
8. To devise and implement European policy on
Sustainable Cities in particular via ICT
Funding to public and private Research to support
RTD on ICT systems for Sustainable Cities
Funding to public authorities together with
technology companies to deploy ICT solutions for
Sustainable Cities
9. Putting the ‘Smart’ in the Green Economy
Key points to remember before you start
• Adopt a systemic approach
– Look at the overall ‘green’ effort .. not just your project
– Be coherent and coordinate on definition of targets
– Identify and pre-empt risks of rebound and leakages
effects
– Approach every initiative as one building block of the
future green economy
10. Putting the ‘Smart’ in the Green Economy
Key points to remember before you start
Adopt a future-proof approach
both in ownership structure and technology choices
– Ensure that systems and structures you choose today are
compatible with /conducive to expected developments
• such as growth in Distributed Generation, Micro-generation, Micro
grids and more Renewable energy sources
– Ensure that your solution and structure can adapt to future
energy savings objectives ( Post 2020 - 2050 ) and evolving
demand
11. Putting the ‘Smart’ in the Green Economy
Key points to remember before you start
Don’t buy Greenwash
• GREENWASH : unsubstantiated, unverifiable claims
• GREENFACTS : Data from trusted source, units and baseline
allowing for comparison
Measure progress towards ‘Green Targets’
• Wherever possible define specific concrete measurable
‘green’ targets and avoid monetary units
• Ensure that the framework, procedures and resources are in
place to collect the evidence
• Identify and apply the most relevant and up to date approach
to measurement
• Keep an eye on evolving methodologies and standards for
measurement, evaluations at EU and International Level
