World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
The event is the follow up to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), held in 2003-2005. More information about WSIS in general can be found on: http://groups.itu.int/wsis-forum2012/Home.aspx
Activities related with sustainable development and environmental protection
Information and communication technologies (ICTs), such as mobile phones, satellite and the Internet, are present in our day to day life, enabling a wide range of services that are assisting in the transition towards a low-carbon “information society”. An information society provides great opportunities to address key global challenges related to sustainable development. The role of ICTs for environmental protection was recognized in the Geneva Plan of Action of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which defined the following goals (action line C7 e-environment): a) Use and promote ICTs as an instrument for environmental protection and the sustainable use of natural resources; b) Initiate actions and implement projects and programs for sustainable production and consumption and the environmentally safe disposal and recycling of discarded hardware and components used in ICTs; c) Establish monitoring systems, using ICTs, to forecast and monitor the impact of natural and man-made disasters, particularly in developing countries, LDCs and small economies. | WSIS Forum 2012 will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 14-18 May 2012. The event is the follow up to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), held in 2003-2005. The event is open to all stakeholders, including government officials, private sector representatives, civil society and international and regional institutions. The outcomes of WSIS Forum 2012 will be shared at other major UN conferences and summits, including Rio+20. |
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
| Monday 14 May | Tuesday 15 May | Wednesday 16 May |
Morning Sessions |
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| 9h to 10h45-Room IX E-waste: challenges, solutions and benefits
Climate change monitoring and disaster risk reduction |
Briefings
| 14h to 14h30 – Room IV Video Presentation Partnership for | 13h30 to14h – Room V Presentation of movie | 13h30 to14h – Room V Publication release: |
Afternoon Sessions | 16h30 to 18h – Room XI Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development Measuring E Waste | 14h to 16h – Room V Advancing the green ICT agenda HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE | 16h15 to 18h15 - Room VI Revisiting e-Environment Action line facilitation meeting |
HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE
Tuesday, 15 May 14h to 16h – Room V | ADVANCING THE GREEN ICT AGENDA |
Signaling one month from the celebration of the Rio+20 Conference, this high level dialogue will look at the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) as enablers of sustainable development, looking at the environmental challenges and opportunities related with the global uptake of ICTs. Aspects to be discussed in the session will include the use of ICTs to monitor, mitigate and adapt to climate change and improve resource efficiency, and the impacts of e-waste.. Participants of this high level debate will provide their vision and experience on the role of partnerships, policies, regulations and standards to advance the sustainable development agenda through Green ICTs.
Speakers |
The session will be moderated by Mr. Vincent Landon, journalist of World Radio Switzerland (WRS) |
WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS
Monday, 14 May 16h30 to 18h - Room XI | MEASURING E WASTE (Session organized by the Partnership on Measuring ICT for Development) |
In recent years, significant international movement has evolved in personal computers and associated hardware, used electronic equipment and used cellular telephones for the removal of usable parts, for refurbishment and reuse and for processing for the recovery of raw materials. While offering some economic benefits, massive import of electrical and electronic wastes (e-wastes) coupled with the same wastes being generated locally is placing a heavy health and environmental burden, in particular to developing countries. The panelists in this session will discuss the challenges when developing indicators related to measuring e-waste, and the compilation of reliable data on e-waste as basis for political decision making and further action on the environmentally sound management of used and end-of-life ICT equipment.
Speakers |
The session will be moderated by Mr Michael Stanley-Jones, Public Information Officer, UNEP Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions |
Wednesday, 16 May 16 9h to 10h45 - Room IX | E-WASTE: CHALLENGES, SOLUTIONS AND BENEFITS (Session organized by ITU and UNEP/Secretariat of the Basel Convention) |
The consumption of electrical and electronic equipment is increasing rapidly throughout the globe with the fast uptake of ICTs. This has led to corresponding increases in volumes of electronic waste (e-waste). In developing countries high volumes of e-waste, in combination with absent or poor environmentally sound management systems, have manifold impacts on the environment, local communities and the economic system. The session will provide an overview of best practices on policies, regulations and standards for improving e-waste management. Panelists at this session will discuss how e-waste poses environment and health related challenges, but also provides opportunities to create green jobs as well as economic incentives for recovering value from redundant, excessive or end-of-life ICTs.
Speakers |
The session will be moderated by Mr Issah Yahaya, Director of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Communications of Ghana |
Wednesday, 16 May 16 11h to12h45 - Room IX | CLIMATE CHANGE MONITORING (Session organized by ITU and WMO) |
ICTs play a pivotal role in climate change monitoring and disaster preparation, response and recovery. The collection and use of accurate climate change data allows for forecasting, mitigating, and adapting to climate change and extreme weather events. The establishment of early warning systems, monitoring infrastructure and remote sensing can improve and make more efficient the responses to disasters and quickly disseminate information, saving lives. The session will provide an overview of best practices and share case studies on projects using ICTs as a tool to monitor, prepare for, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Speakers |
The session will be moderated by Mr Cosmas Zavazava, Chief, Project Support and Knowledge Management Division, Telecommunications Development Bureau, ITU |
Wednesday, 16 May 16 16h15 to 18h15 - Room VI | REVISITING E-ENVIRONMENT @ WSIS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION – Open to all participants Action line facilitation meeting for Action Line C7, e-environment |
As the WSIS process approaches its 10 year review (scheduled for 2014) this action line facilitation meeting will discuss the lessons learned by all stakeholders in the implementation of programmes, initiatives and public policies related to the use of ICTs for the protection of the environment, looking at new elements and considerations that could be recommended in the WSIS+10 review. The facilitation meeting for Action Line C7, e-environment will be a roundtable discussion among key stakeholders involved in the implementation of this action line along with experts from the sustainability community.
Format of the discussion |
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The session will be moderated by the Facilitators of Action Line C7, e-environment, WMO, ITU and UNEP.
PUBLICATION RELEASES AND BRIEFINGS
Date | Time (Room) | Details (organizer) |
14 May
| 14h to 14h30 (room IV) | Briefing on the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment – PACE |
15 May | 13h30 to 14h (room V) | Presentation of the movie “Africa: Digital Graveyard” |
16 May | 13h30 to 14h (room V) | Publication release: Where are WEEE in Africa? Findings from the Basel Convention on the e-waste Africa Programme |
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ILO Conference Center, Geneva
Calendar
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Roundtable and International workshop reports
| World Environment Day Roundtable: Think.Eat.Save.- Reduce your footprint 05/06/2013 - 10:00 - 13:00 |
| Green Economy & Trade: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities 08/05/2013 - 14:30 - 16:30 |
| First UNEP Universal Governing Council Debriefing 28/02/2013 - 14:15 - 16:30 |
