Six ways to save the planet [Sustainability Innovation]

Once the dust settles on next month's Copenhagen climate change summit, attention will turn to how new targets are going to be met. We asked E&Ts editors to review some of the technologies that could provide the world's governments with an early Christmas present. How can the communications industry help tackle global warming? The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is currently lobbying hard to have the role of information and communications technology as a tool for reducing climate change recognised at the upcoming Copenhagen meeting. Rural electrification in the developing world could bring big benefits to both people and the planet but not if it depends on expensive diesel generators to replace the power grids that the developed world takes for granted. That's why its proponents are increasingly looking to photovoltaic (PV) panels to do the job.