【世界银行】衡量国家ICT行业环境影响：Arcep案例研究-2025_27页_2mb

Summary of the Measuring National ICT Sector Environmental Impact: Arcep Case Study

Core Content

This report, authored by the World Bank and ITU, presents a case study on Arcep (Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques, des Postes et de la Distribution de la Presse), the French regulatory authority for electronic communications, postal services, and print media distribution. The study highlights how Arcep has pioneered the collection and analysis of environmental data within the ICT sector, serving as a model for other regulators aiming to measure and reduce the environmental impact of digital technologies.

Main Viewpoints

• ICT Sector Environmental Impact: The ICT sector contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, estimated at 1.5 to 4 percent of the total, surpassing the aviation industry. It also affects energy and water consumption, raw material depletion, and e-waste.
• Need for Data Collection: Limited national-level data on the ICT sector's environmental footprint hampers effective policymaking and climate action. The report underscores the importance of comprehensive data to inform Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and sustainable digital practices.
• Arcep's Leadership: Arcep is the first and only sector regulator globally to regularly publish environmental data from digital players, including telecom operators, data center operators, and device manufacturers.
• Collaborative Approach: Arcep's success is attributed to its collaboration with industry stakeholders, environmental associations, and government bodies, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement and capacity building.
• Adaptive and Progressive Methodology: Arcep's approach is incremental, starting with telecom operators and gradually expanding to cover the entire digital ecosystem, including data centers, device manufacturers, and cloud computing providers.

Key Information

Regulatory Mandate and Modifications

• Establishment of Arcep: Founded in 2005, Arcep expanded its mandate to include environmental impact assessment of the ICT sector.
• Legal Basis: The data collection is based on the French Post and Electronic Communications Code, revised in 2021 with the introduction of Law No. 2 of 23 December 2021, and further expanded in 2024 through Law No. 2024-449 on "Securing and regulating the digital space".
• Scope of Data Collection: Arcep collects data from four main types of companies: electronic communications operators, digital device manufacturers, data center operators, and mobile network equipment manufacturers.
• Data Collection Process: Arcep uses Excel questionnaires and collaborates with companies throughout the process, including the definition of indicators, data verification, and sharing of results for feedback.

Data Solicited

• Carbon Emissions: Collected using the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1 standards, covering Scope 1 and 2 emissions, with plans to include Scope 3.
• Energy Indicators: Includes total electricity consumption, energy per device, and Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE).
• Other Indicators: Devices sold, recycling and reconditioning volumes, water consumption, and use of rare earths and precious metals.

Data Utilization and Outputs

• Dissemination: Environmental data is published in annual reports and observatories, enhancing transparency and reducing information asymmetry.
• Impact: The data is used to inform regulatory decisions, promote sustainable practices, and support national climate goals.
• Future Plans: Arcep aims to expand its data collection to include fixed network equipment manufacturers in the 5th edition of its survey.

Lessons and Recommendations

• Challenges: Many ICT regulators lack the mandate or capacity to collect environmental data, and there is a need for better understanding of reporting standards.
• Recommendations:
  • Regulators should establish clear mandates for environmental data collection.
  • Capacity building on climate and environmental issues is essential.
  • A collaborative and stakeholder-inclusive approach should be adopted.
  • The process should be progressive and adaptable to include more sectors over time.
  • Legal frameworks must be updated to cover all relevant ICT industry players.

Conclusion

Arcep's approach to collecting and analyzing environmental data in the ICT sector demonstrates the feasibility of creating a robust, scalable, and adaptive regulatory framework. By starting with telecom operators and gradually expanding the scope, Arcep has set a precedent that other regulators can follow to better understand and mitigate the environmental impact of digital technologies.

Annexes

• 7.1 Summary of Legislative Changes: Details the legal modifications that expanded Arcep's mandate to include environmental data collection.
• 7.2 Companies Surveyed for 2024 Annual Study: Lists the specific companies surveyed in the 2024 study, categorized by type and selection criteria.

Tables and Figures

• Table 3.1: Lists the types of companies surveyed, their selection criteria, and the corresponding questionnaires.
• Table 3.2: Provides a summary of the environmental data collected, including units and the types of companies involved.
• Figure 2.1: Shows the distribution of GHG emissions from the digital sector in France, with projections for 2030 and 2050.
• Figure 2.2: Depicts the timeline of Arcep's activities related to the ICT environmental footprint.
• Figure 3.1: Illustrates the data collection, processing, and analysis cycle for the 2022 data.

Boxes

• Box 2.1: Highlights the digital carbon footprint in France, emphasizing the significant contribution of end-user devices and the need for a comprehensive approach to environmental impact assessment.