ITU adopts new standard on measuring ICT impact on climate goals
A new recommendation from the International Telecommunication Union sets out methods to assess how digital technologies contribute to emissions reduction across sectors, while highlighting both benefits and potential trade-offs.
A newly approved standard from the International Telecommunication Union establishes a framework for evaluating how information and communication technologies (ICTs) influence climate outcomes beyond the digital sector.
Recommendation ITU-T L.1520, approved on 9 March 2026 and published on 5 May 2026, focuses on what is described as the ‘enablement effect’ of ICT. This refers to the extent to which technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and data systems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in other sectors, including energy, transport, industry, and agriculture.
The document does not function as a compliance tool, but instead provides guidance on how organisations can assess the environmental impact of ICT-driven interventions. It introduces a set of evaluation metrics that go beyond emissions alone, covering factors such as energy efficiency, operational performance, costs, circularity, and system reliability.
A central element of the recommendation is the comparison between two scenarios: one where ICT solutions are deployed, and a hypothetical baseline where they are not. This approach reflects the difficulty of directly measuring impacts that depend on behavioural and systemic changes over time.
The framework also distinguishes between different types of effects. While ICT systems themselves have an environmental footprint, their use can generate indirect benefits, such as reduced travel or improved resource efficiency. At the same time, the recommendation notes the possibility of rebound effects, where efficiency gains lead to increased consumption, offsetting potential emissions reductions.
In addition to measurement methods, the document outlines sector-specific practices. For example, ICT can support more efficient power grid management, optimise industrial processes, enable smart building systems, and improve transport coordination through data-driven tools. In agriculture, digital systems are presented as a way to support precision farming and supply chain transparency.
The recommendation situates these applications within broader climate targets, including efforts to reach net-zero emissions. However, it emphasises that outcomes depend on implementation choices and contextual factors, rather than assuming uniformly positive effects.
