Alcatel-Lucent and China’s Tsinghua University reveal high awareness of green ICT benefits in China – but show further work required on application
Professionals open to government policies and looking for ways to overcome perceived price barriers to help them achieve targets
Beijing, China, April 23, 2012 – Research carried out by China’s Tsinghua University Media Survey Lab on behalf of Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) has found that professionals working in the Chinese information and communications technology (ICT) industry are open to ‘going green’ but struggle with how to use technology to achieve carbon reduction targets.
The study, commissioned by Alcatel-Lucent, revealed that most Chinese companies are aware of green ICT initiatives and 59 percent had a plan to go green themselves. Awareness of green ICT in China was equally as high amongst professionals in the industry, but here far more – over 90% – believed that technology can help develop low-carbon economy through the reduction of energy consumption and stimulating society to reduce greenhouse gas emissions further.
Researchers at Tsinghua University also found that most ICT professionals in China believed green technology to be an important part of an enterprise’s social responsibility. The study found that 39 percent of businesses in China planned to reduce carbon emissions by 1%-20% within the next three to five years with the national target of 17% in China’s 12th five-year plan. However there was resistance to adopting more sustainable policies due to what they see as high capital, time and human resource investment requirements.
The report suggests that a coordinated approach between the technology industry, Chinese government, enterprises and education authorities will be key to ensuring that companies understand the best way to use ICT to reduce carbon emissions on a national scale. Over the next five years, China’s government will increase its efforts to boost adoption of sustainable information technology. Respondents expressed their confidence that scientific research institutions will place greater importance on green ICT in that timeframe.
The Alcatel-Lucent study conducted by Tsinghua University Media Survey Lab is the first nationwide research in Chinaon the perception of Green ICT within the ICT industry to reveal the connection between the country’s economic strength and its technological strength in sustainability. In total 1072 respondents were surveyed, including professionals from approximately 500 enterprises, 100 government departments, industry associations and institutes of higher education in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanjing and Hangzhou.
Commenting on the study Zhao Shuguang, Tsinghua University Media Survey Lab Director, said: “The advancements in the green ICT industry will be significant in propelling the development of a low-carbon economy, improving energy conservation and reducing emissions in China. China’s green ICT industry research was initiated to get an in-depth understanding of the level of awareness and any misconceptions about green technology, low-carbon economy and energy conservation among industry professionals. We also wanted further insight into the goals of enterprises and their plans relating to the development of green ICT. The report will provide support for the future development of green ICT in China.”
Rajeev Singh-Molares, President of the Asia-Pacific Region for Alcatel-Lucent, said: “The relationship between ICT and the environment is complex and multi-faceted. Enterprises, government bodies and academic institutions need to work in tandem to spur the development and innovation of green ICT through environmentally sustainable models”.
Mr. Singh-Molares added: “With the information industry becoming one of China’s fastest growing economic sectors, green ICT provides a leapfrogging opportunity to mitigate some of the challenges in our environment, including climate change, energy efficiency and biodiversity among others. Alcatel-Lucent has long placed great importance on green ICT development, which is the reason we have lent our support to this project. Environmental sustainability is one of the cornerstones of Alcatel-Lucent’s corporate strategy and we will continue to lead the industry in developing and deploying innovative technologies that are environmentally responsible.”
To read the survey report, please visit:
About Tsinghua University
Established in 1911, Tsinghua University is located in Beijing, China. At present, the university has 16 schools and 56 departments with faculties in science, engineering, humanities, law, medicine, history, philosophy, economics, management, education and art. The University has now over 25,900 students, including 13,100 undergraduates and 12,800 graduate students. As one of China’s most renowned universities, Tsinghua has become an important institution for fostering talent and scientific research.
With a motto of Self-Discipline and Social Commitment, Tsinghua University is dedicated to academic excellence, the well-being of Chinese society and to global development. According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2011-2012, Tsinghua ranked 71 among universities worldwide.
About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU)
The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises and governments around the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leading innovator in the field of networking and communications technology, products and services. The company is home to Bell Labs, one of the world’s foremost research centers, responsible for breakthroughs that have shaped the networking and communications industry. Alcatel-Lucent was named one of MIT Technology Review’s 2012 Top 50 list of the “World’s Most Innovative Companies” for breakthroughs such as lightRadio™, which cuts power consumption and operating costs on wireless networks while delivering lightning fast Internet access. Through such innovations, Alcatel-Lucent is making communications more sustainable, more affordable and more accessible as we pursue our mission – Realizing the Potential of a Connected World.
With operations in more than 130 countries and one of the most experienced global services organizations in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The Company achieved revenues of Euro 15.3 billion in 2011 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.
For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com, read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent blog: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow the Company on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.
