Dear Subscriber,
First and foremost, I would like to thank all our members and partners who joined us for GeSI’s 29th General Assembly, held in Washington DC and online. I also extend my thanks to Verizon and our Chairman, Jim Gowen for their hospitality as hosts. This 29th edition of the GA was monumental in driving GeSI forward. The strategic decisions taken will help us create a stronger organisation, better equipped to serving our members and making a greater impact around digital sustainability and ICT. 2022 is almost at an end, and now is the perfect time to reflect not only on what we learned, but also to envision what is ahead. The challenges we are facing will require stronger intervention and commitment. At GeSI, we are well-positioned to lead the twin transition. Our strengths, capabilities and thought leadership agenda will be the driving force to ensure a more sustainable planet. With COP27 behind us, we must remember that urgent action is needed now more than ever to combat climate change and all the challenges that come with it.
For GeSI, 2022 was a crucial year. We held two General Assemblies in May and December, which drove our agenda towards a more ambitious organisation. In September, we launched our first-ever Digital with Purpose Global Summit in Lisbon, which renewed our commitment to leading positive change. We stepped up to lead the European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC), joined the EU-Japan Business Round Table and continued to grow our membership and partnerships. Finally, we had a significant presence at COP27 held in Egypt, with two sessions at the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub Pavilion, complementing our newly approved partnership agreement with the UNFCCC. With that, I would like to thank the GeSI family for their support and for making 2022 a successful year. I wish you a prosperous year ahead.
Happy holidays and happy reading!
Luis Neves CEO, GeSI |
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Presentation on Current Approaches to Digital Product Passport for Circular Economy |
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Dr. Holger Berg, Vice-Director of Circular Economy and Co-head of Digital Transformation at the Wuppertal Institute, was invited by the GeSI Circular Economy Task Force working group to present his most recent paper, "Current Approaches to the Digital Product Passport for a Circular Economy: An Overview of Projects and Initiatives" on 2nd November 2022. He presented his paper defining 13 criteria for a comparable description, categorisation and evaluation for a structures assessment and discussion of diverse approaches to the Digital Product Passports. Following that, Dr. Leandro Navarro, who is the co-rapporteur of ITU Study Group 5 on Digital Passports gave his presentation on linking the Digital Product Passport to the Circular Economy and Digital Transformation of (ICT) products. |
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GeSI at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt |
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GeSI hosted two sessions at COP 27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt at the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub Pavilion on 10 November 2022. The first session, European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC): Assessing the climate impact of digital solutions, was opened by keynote speaker Valerie Hayer, Member of European Parliament, and followed by a panel discussion with Ilias Iakovidis (DG Connect, European Commission), Mats Pellbaek Scharp (Ericsson), Pauline Op de Beeck (The Carbon Trust), Massamba Thioye (UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub) and Steven Moore (GSMA).
The second session, Mind the Gap: Accelerating sustainable transformation with enabling technologies and innovative policy making, presented two case studies from Florence Verzelen (Dassault Systèmes) and John Pflueger(Dell Technologies). In addition, the two presenters then were joined by Massamba Thioye (UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub,) Yu Ping Chan (United Nations), Luis Neves, GeSI for a panel discussion.
You can watch the recordings of the two sessions through the following links:
Session 1: European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC): Assessing the climate impact of digital solutions | link
Session 2: Mind the Gap: Accelerating sustainable transformation with enabling technologies and innovative policy making | link |
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The one6G Summit 2022 was held online on 10 November 2022. Over 20 worldwide experts from politics, business, and academia were present at the event, and they discussed the potential and challenges that lie ahead as we set out on a new path towards a hyperconnected society. Luis Neves, CEO of GeSI gave a presentation at this event titled Digital with purpose – delivering technology for 10 billion people. |
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Huawei's flagship event - Connectivity+: Innovate for Impact |
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Huawei's flagship event - Connectivity+: Innovate for Impact was held on 23 November 2022. The event highlighted how connectivity helps people in remote areas embrace a better life and how communication platforms for media, government, think tanks, carrier, and industry stakeholders can be built through innovative technologies. Luis Neves, CEO of GeSI was a panelist in the session “From Connect to Impact” which focused on enriching digital services for inclusive development. |
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EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation’s Business Round Table Annual Meeting |
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On 15th November 2022, Luis Neves, CEO of GeSI attended the 24th EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation's Business Round Table Annual Meeting in Tokyo, Japan. The 24th annual meeting of the EU-Japan Business Round Table brought together business leaders and representatives of the Authorities of the EU and Japan to discuss issues of common interest.
The issues covered included paths to a Green Alliance which encompasses plans to carbon neutrality; energy transition; biodiversity; bioeconomy; circular economy; EU-Japan EPA and Green Issues, Digital Partnership including digital transformation; Japan-EU Digital Partnership; enabling SME growth through digital transformation; EU-Japan EPA and Digital Issues and Frontiers which included resilient economies, societies, cities & social infrastructure; regulatory cooperation & cooperation third country markets; eductaion & equality; economic & geopolitical risk management; WTO, EU-Japan EPA and Other Trade Issues. |
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Taiwan Circular Economy Forum |
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The fourth Taiwan Circular Economy forum was held on 28 November 2022 in Taiwan organized by Taiwan Mobile Co., Ltd., Taipei New Horizon with the topic "ICT, Circulate a Better Sustainable Future." Experts and academics from Taiwan and abroad were invited to the forum to talk about how the digital transformation can contribute to the development of a circular economy, learn from the European Union's experiences in accelerating the transition to a circular economy, and promote Digital with Purpose (DwP). In his keynote address, "ICT as Enabler of Circular Economy-Opportunities, Technology Amplifiers, Obstacles," Luis Neves, CEO of GeSI underlined that the policy-making process could not keep up with the emission of greenhouse gases. |
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Tata Consultancy Services joins Digital with Purpose |
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We are very pleased to announce that Tata Consultancy Services is joining the Digital with Purpose (DWP) Movement. Joining the DWP Movement and partnering with GeSI is a valuable next step for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Accessing the unique DWP framework will support Tata Consultancy Services in further developing its responsible business practice. The DWP framework covers metrics in multiple areas from digital trust and responsibility to circular economy, climate change and supply chains. This will not only support them in carbon reduction but also guide their path to more responsible business activities for both themselves and their clients.
Read the full press release here. |
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Telecom Sustainability Digital Symposium |
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The InformaTech Telecom Sustainability Digital symposium was held online on 30 November 2022 and focused on the energy reduction and sustainability efforts of cable, telco, mobile and fiber service providers in North America and Europe as they seek to cut their own carbon footprint, enable their B2B customers to do the same and drive the development and deployment of sustainable technologies. The event showcased the best practices and technological solutions that leading telecom players are already deploying, as well as new solutions proposed by the most advanced technology suppliers. GeSI members TDC NET and Deutsche Telekom had a strong presence at this event. |
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29th General Assembly of GeSI |
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GeSI held its hybrid 29th General Assembly on 6 December 2022. This General Assembly saw many fruitful discussions with members and partners. GeSI was honoured to have Andrew Mayock, the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer at The White House in our presence for a fireside chat. This fireside chat reiterated the need for stronger partnerships in digital sustainability and the need for more holistic sustainable development models. It was also exciting to see members endorsing opening Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) to other industry sectors and SMEs. GeSI is also thankful to Verizon for hosting the GA at their office in Washington DC. |
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EGDC Workshop on Calculating the net environmental impact of digital solutions |
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European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC) organised a workshop on 16 December 2022 that presented the two first case study calculators developed within the Pilot Project, which assess the net environmental impact of a real-life digital solution in the building sector and in the transport sector 1. This workshop also introduced the final open round of submissions of case studies.
The calculators presented in this workshop consisted of Excel sheets with the calculations, as well as a supporting methodology document, outlining assumptions, data sources, etc. These calculators can be used by companies to either assess the impact of similar solutions or as a template to develop calculators for other solutions in that sector. |
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| Members and Partners Corner |
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Deutsche Telekom ranks number 1 in DJSI |
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Deutsche Telekom became the #1 Telecommunications company in the S&P CSA Rating. They also qualified for the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World (DJSI World) and Dow Jones Sustainability Index Europe (DJSI Europe) for the eighth time in a row. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) honors the leading companies in every industry for responsible economic, ecological and social performance and once again ranks Deutsche Telekom as one of the 10% most sustainable companies worldwide. This year Deutsche Telekom got the top spot both in DJSI World and DJSI Europe.
Deutsche Telekom is ranked #1 among all global and European telecoms businesses in the assessment of sustainability performance in the overall telecommunications industry, mobile communications, and fixed network with 93 out of 100 points. In the three key areas of Economic, Environmental, and Social, Deutsche Telekom once more outperformed the prior year in terms of its performance.
More than 2,800 businesses from all sectors participated in the 2022 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Only six telcos were selected from the evaluated companies in the "Telecommunication Services" category. Deutsche Telekom was the only european telco to make it to the DJSI world index. |
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Colt Technology Services and Lumen Technologies enter exclusivity arrangement |
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Colt Technology Services and Lumen Technologies enter exclusivity arrangement for the purchase by Colt of Lumen’s EMEA business. Keri Gilder, CEO, Colt says, “We’re deeply committed to building extraordinary connections for our people, customers and partners across our digital infrastructure. This acquisition would strengthen and extend these connections across existing and new geographies, helping us to accelerate growth and bring the power of the digital universe closer to our customers.”
The planned transaction, which is subject to usual conditions, calls for Lumen to sell Colt, a company with headquarters in London, its EMEA operations, comprising its terrestrial and subsea networks, data centers, and network equipment. When the deal is done, it will support Lumen's strategic goal of making investments in core businesses that are anticipated to generate sustainable, profitable growth. |
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NEC named to the CDP "A List" for advanced Climate Change and Water Security initiatives four years in a row |
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NEC Corporation has been honored by the international environmental non-profit CDP (*1) for corporate sustainability leadership, earning a spot on its renowned "A List" four years in a row for addressing climate change and taking steps to ensure water security.
Under the NEC 2030VISION, NEC has established a policy for "Living happily with the planet to ensure the future" and has prioritized decarbonization as a material management subject from an ESG standpoint. NEC is attempting to offer solutions that support the realization of a decarbonized society, addressing climate change, and ensuring food and water security while working on the Mid-Term Management Plan 2025. |
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Telstra awarded A rating in CDP’s Global Climate Change Index for 2022 |
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Telstra started many sustainability initiaves this year, from establishing their first carbon farm, achieved 100% recyclable packaging for Telstra-branded products, and took steps towards their goal of enabling renewable energy equivalent of 100% of consumption with an agreement with what will be Australia’s largest wind farm. |
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ETSI Mission critical testing event reports a 96% success rate |
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Mission Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT), Mission Critical Data (MCData), and Mission Critical Video (MCVideo), collectively referred to as MCX services, were put to the test at the University of Malaga (UMA) during the seventh MCX Plugtests TM from November 7 through November 11, 2022. MCX ETSI Plugtests series is the first independent testing of mission-critical public safety and other services across LTE and 5G networks. Based on 3GPP Release-17, nearly 1200 use cases were carried out between more than 150 delegates and suppliers using 4G and 5G test networks. The report, which is available online, displays a 96.0% interoperability test execution success rate for 3GPP mission important services. |
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| Stay tuned for these events in 2023! |
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CE Task Force-CEP paper launch event 22 February 2023 | Brussels
COP28 November-December | Dubai
InformaTech’s “Big 5G Event” 15-17 May | Austin, Texas EU Green Week 30 May - 5 June | Brussels
NYC Climate Week 18-24 September | New York City
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| Digital with Purpose summit |
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Digital with Purpose Summit will be held on 27-29 September 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal! |
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NTT Data launches Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Solution with e-Magic on Microsoft Azure | link
Microsoft names new Chief Sustainability Officer | link
Digital transformation of small tourism businesses can lead India’s march to USD 5 trillion economy | link
2022 was the year of EV investment for Green Frontier Capital | link |
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