About ICT21-EE...

Background

The proposed Thematic Network takes into account, integrates and contributes to the main initiatives launched by the European Commission. As far as the general framework is concerned, the Network – by addressing the issue of ICT-based solutions for the promotion of energy efficiency – will respond both to the Lisbon and Goteborg strategies.
Reducing energy consumption and eliminating energy waste are among the main goals of the European Union. The Thematic Network takes into account the Commission’s work on energy efficiency standards and labelling for products, services and infrastructure.
The proposed Thematic Network comes in support to Europe’s objective – set out by the Commission’s Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (Action Plan for Energy Efficiency 2007 – 2012: Realising the Potential) – to save 20% of energy consumption by 2020. At the same time it encompasses the ICT dimension included in the i2010– A European Information Society 2010, which recognises that ICT can contribute strongly to improvements of quality of life and are also a tool for environmental sustainability through clean, low energy and efficient production processes.

Overall objective

The overall objective of the ICT21-EE thematic network is to promote and achieve a reasoned use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to enable enhanced energy efficiency in the multiple functions which constitute the complexity of urban areas – at home, in the workplace and in transport. By addressing urban issues related to energy savings, this project shall contribute to achieve the objective of the European Council to reduce by 20% the global EU energy consumption by 2020 as estimated by the Council in March 2007 on an Energy policy for Europe.

Specific objectives

The specific objectives of the thematic network are:

- To contribute to the European Commission initiatives on “ICT for sustainable growth” by establishing working groups on three specific topics (ICT for energy efficiency in buildings, ICT for energy efficiency in transport and impact of ICT on user behaviours) thus following the priorities of the European Council of the 8/9 March 2007 and the EU/G8 energy efficiency conference of April 2007.

- To participate to the definition of good practices and to contribute to the definition of a framework of norms and processes to be reproduced and disseminated at the European level

- To gather initiatives – defined as good practices - involving ICT in a perspective of better use of energy implemented on different European territories and by public and private stakeholders and to promote them through a European online repository to be developed.

Stakeholders from public and private sectors will participate to the network. As they come from ten European countries and gather more than 1000 towns/cities, 21 corporations, 43 regional and local organisations which implement, co-ordinate and facilitate energy and environment policies, from all over Europe, the objective to define strategies and to promote good practices and policy debate at the European level for the wider possible audience should be adequately met.