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(Teipei, Dec. 4th) The Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), which is committed to promoting the sustainable development of the ICT industry, held its GeSI General Assembly in Taipei this year for the first time. Today (Dec. 4th), Digital Transformation for Global Sustainability, the biggest international forum for the ICT industries in the world, was held in Taiwan for the first time. During the forum, Mr. Jim Gowen, the Chairman of GeSI, Mr. Luis Neves, Managing Director of GeSI, and Jeffrey Sachs, the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on Sustainable Development Goals, shared their views on the importance of sustainable development. The forum gathered well-known speakers and GeSI member representatives from around the world, and attracted more than 200 participants. Taiwan Mobile, the first GeSI member in Asia, served as the host country this year. The Chairman of TWM, Mr. Daniel M. Tsai, welcomed guests from afar as they have brought Taiwan valuable information on new perspectives and trends in global sustainable development.
Today’s topics are highly pertinent to the ICT industry. Chairman Jim Gowen of GeSI first delivered a speech regarding “How does ICT enables sustainable transformation in industries around the world” as an opening for further discussions. Today’s forum explored important issues that have been receiving widespread attention worldwide, such as sustainable development, climate change, and sustainable management of supply chains. In addition, we have explored ideas and case studies in topics such as "ICT as key driver to support the Sustainable Development Goals", "The Role of ICT in Climate Change Action", "Supply Chain Management in ICT Industry". These discussions have led to greater inspirations and concrete suggestions for Taiwan’s ICT industry. The forum not only gathered GeSI members from afar but also attracted ICT businesses and suppliers worldwide. The President of Tatung Company, Lin Wei-shan as well as business representatives from ZTE, Fujitsu, AUO, and AUSU all participated at the forum.
Daniel M. Tsai, Chairman of Taiwan Mobile, expressed that Taiwan is a key strategic partner in the global ICT industry, and has a leading position in global information hardware manufacturing. The production value in network equipments and mobile devices is estimated at US$50 billion, which shows that Taiwan's manufacturers play a pivotal role in the global ICT supply chain. Therefore, ICT manufacturers in Taiwan must not be absent from global sustainable development. We have also launched a new project called “Green Power for Charity”. This project combines green energy advocacy, social enterprise and long-term care. Funds are raised by handset vendors and customers to install solar panels on the roof of a long term care institutions. So that the institution can receive continuing revenues from sales of electricity generated for 20 years. We have also actively pushed for ending all 2G services, which, when implemented by all three major carriers, will reduce power usage throughout Taiwan by 300 GWh a year, equivalent to a reduction of 158 million tons of carbon emissions annually.
Chairman of GeSI, Jim Gowen, who is also Vice President of Verizon as well as Supply Chain Operations and Chief Sustainability Officer, stated that ending 2G services in Taiwan reduced carbon emissions greatly, which is truly impressive. In the United States, 2G networks are still widely utilized, so its service cannot end yet. However, to reduce damage to the environment, the importance of 4G and 5G development will be emphasized and new technologies will be developed. He was also happy to see that TWM already begun planning for the next five or ten years. Taiwan is positioned as a key strategic collaborative partner in the global ICT industry and boasts many cutting-edge technologies. In other words, Taiwan has advantages in sustainable development.
One of the directors of TWM, Mr. Chang San-cheng, also join a penal discussion and shared his points of views on "Challenges and opportunities arising from sustainable development powered by digital transformation" with Jim Gowen and GeSI representatives based on his expertise in the fields of technology. Mr. Chang emphasized that the ICT industry should facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration to explore new business models. In addition, the large economic scale of Taiwan's ICT industry is helpful for the development of innovative industries. For instance, high-tech industries, such as drones and IoT technology, can help Taiwan's development in agricultural transformation and intensive agriculture. Mr. Chang took Taiwan's electric scooter brand ‘Gogoro’ as an example. Since the innovative application services that Gogoro provides are connected with customers' cellphones, Gogoro is popular among young people. It has been praised as ‘the iPhone of electric scooters’. In response to Mr. Chang, Jim Gowen stated that corporations should come up with new business models and think about how to increase Returns on Investment (ROI) as they are practicing environmental protection. By doing so, sustainable development can be continuously promoted.
In today's forum, we invited many prestigious speakers. For example, Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on SDGs shared his views on how the ICT industry promotes sustainable development. According to Jeffrey Sachs, the technologies that ICT businesses have, such as mobile broadband, AI, remote sensing, and biometric systems, can better promote sustainable development. New developments in the information industry can make telemedicine and remote education possible, thereby saving many lives. As a result, it is important for ICT businesses worldwide to take action. His comments received positive responses and commitments from Jim Gowen and Luis. Jeffrey also stated that he will recommend for the UN Secretary General to further collaborate with GeSI, the prestigious initiative in the global ICT industry, on common goals.
Mr. Luis Neves, Managing Director of GeSI, stated that global businesses have to think outside the box, thereby improving technologies and business operating models to achieve sustainable development. As GeSI is entering a new era, GeSI will make all-out efforts to help the ICT industry reach sustainable development, so as to assist businesses in improving efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. With rapid advances in technology, the ICT industry will have to address a variety of challenges and issues, such as AI, information security, and privacy. Furthermore, governments, businesses, and customers will have to create a collaboration mechanism to enhance mutual trust. CDP Executive Chairman Paul Dickinson in London also participated in the discussion on “Promoting SDGs through real applications” at 3am in local time.
Given that climate change has become one of the common concerns in the worldwide, the forum also specially invited Mi-ri Kim, Nuri Kim, and Trevor Bell, who were the winners of the 2017 Lighthouse Activity Award by UNFCCC, to share what the ICT industry has come out with in COP23 to respond to global climate change.
In the forum, Mi-ri Kim and Nuri Kim from South Korea shared an innovative project known as the "Green Credit Card". In response of the South Korean government's environmental policies, BC Card, South Korea's biggest payment processing company, launched the Green Credit Card. Green Credit Card users are rewarded with points that are converted into cash when they buy eco-friendly products. In addition, big data analysis can be conducted using the consumer data provided by credit card's issuing banks, and therefore the South Korea government can implement environmental policies more efficiently. Because of the collaboration between the government, businesses, and customers, a total of 15.8 million Green Credit Cards have been issued since its launch five years ago, creating 36.4 trillion in total revenues and resulting in emissions reductions of 2.5 million tons of CO2. The Green Credit Card initiative has definitely been a successful public and private partnership business model that balances profits and environmental concerns. The Green Credit Card initiative was also one of the recipients of the United Nations "Momentum for Change" Climate Solutions Award. Now, BC Card is planning to introduce the Green Credit Card to China, Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia.
Another winner of 2017 Lighthouse Activity award, Canadian geographer Trevor Bell, presented "SmartICE" to address climate change. SmartICE has integrated ice detection technology to help Inuit people adapt to rapidly changing sea ice conditions in Arctic Canada, which helps to solve issues such as communication difficulties and transportation safety. A network of stationary and mobile sensors that measure sea ice thickness, together with ice hazard maps generated from satellite imagery, help residents make decisions on sea ice travel by providing information or warnings that reduce risks and allow for the planning of safe routes. The SmartICE project directly benefits people in Arctic communities, and has attracted young people to participate in it. This is a great demonstration of what can be accomplished with collaboration between the community and local businesses. It is hoped that SmartICE can also be promoted to other Arctic communities in the world.
Our honored guests in attendance today come from all over the world, including Canada, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Milan, and Bangkok. Furthermore, we have used modern technology to allow speakers on the other side of the world to talk with us and participate in discussions on global sustainable development. We crossed boundaries and overcame time zone differences with technology, and fulfilled goals to reduce carbon emissions and to save energy. This high-tech event resulted in emissions reductions of 26 tons of CO2, which is equivalent to 2,700 gallons of gasoline, or to 2.5 times the annual energy consumption of the average Taiwanese. All participants were impressed by this ICT forum and praised it as one of the best high-tech international forum this year.
Taiwan Mobile was the first corporation in Taiwan to join the world ICT industry’s Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), which gives us the opportunity to conduct exchanges with top international corporations around the world. This year, Taiwan Mobile is honored to be elected by GeSI’s members to serve as a board member. After participating in two annual meetings, we have gained invaluable experience and have learned proactive measures towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the end of the forum, James Jeng, the President of Taiwan Mobile, expressed that Taiwan Mobile is delighted to have had the opportunity to organize this event, and to serve as a member of the GeSI board. This event was a precious opportunity to gather enterprises from around the world to find out smarter solutions for sustainable development from the perspective of international ICT companies.
Since its establishment in 2001, GeSI’s vision has always been of a sustainable world through ICT-enabled development and transformation. Members of GeSI are businesses related to the ICT industry. They are also international benchmark corporations that have been selected in the DJSI World. In the past, GeSI's members were mainly from Europe or America. Taiwan Mobile is the first corporation in Taiwan to have joined GeSI. This year, there are more corporate members from China and Australia to join with GeSI. GeSI's influence has expanded to the Asia-Pacific area. This not only shows that GeSI has gained recognition from ICT industries in the Asia-Pacific area but also presents GeSI's determination in promoting sustainable development.
