October 29, 2008

Study Group on Ecological Issues in the ICT Field to be Convened

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will convene a Study Group on Ecological Issues in the ICT Field to study measures for promoting the reduction of CO2 emissions and the recycling of mobile phones, PHS, etc.

1. Background and purpose
(1) As indicated in the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit Leaders Declaration issued in July 2008, environmental issues (ecological issues) have become global concerns.

(2) The ecological issues require positive approaches in the ICT field. For example, communications carriers, including mobile phone operators, are expected to:
- further promote the utilization of information and communication technology (ICT) contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions in a variety of fields and to reduce the CO2 emissions directly by the utilization of the ICT; and
- promote the recycling and reuse of mobile phones and other terminals containing rare metals and the like (the use of mobile phones and other terminals as so-called urban mines).

(3) With this as a background, MIC will convene this study group to study the ecological measures to be taken in the future while evaluating approaches that have been taken so far by communications carriers and the like.

2. Study items (example)
(1) Promotion of the reduction of CO2 emissions
- Further promotion of voluntary approaches
- Offering incentives to install low-power-consumption equipment
(2) Promotion of recycling and reuse of mobile phones and other similar devices

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For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/eng/contact.html

International Policy Division,
Global ICT Strategy Bureau, MIC
TEL: +81 3 5253 5920 / FAX: +81 3 5253 5924