[governance] Workshop Proposal - Towards a zero carbon Internet

[Ian Peter]

Please note I will not be submitting this as an IGC workshop at this stage
due to lack of interest

Ian Peter
PO Box 429
Bangalow NSW 2479
Australia
Tel (+614) 1966 7772 or (+612) 6687 0773
www.ianpeter.com
 
 
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Peter [mailto:ian.peter at ianpeter.com] 
> Sent: 16 April 2009 05:55
> To: 'William Drake'; governance at lists.cpsr.org
> Subject: RE: [governance] Workshop Proposal - Towards a zero 
> carbon Internet
> 
> Bill, I was thinking more along the lines that probably well 
> over 90% of the worlds connected computers are in large 
> installations run by governments and corporations, and these 
> may be responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions. 
> There is much that can be done if these groups co-operate in 
> new ways. Also there were workshops which I found very 
> disappointing on this in Hyderabad. 
>  
> But yes the governance issue is a little hard to find at this 
> stage and I would certainly not like to see this as a main 
> theme. However I think there is room for a few regional 
> co-operative approaches, there are a few national legislation 
> approaches, and definitely internet architecture approaches 
> that should be examined  here or elsewhere. I think these are 
> aspects of governance in a loose sense. (and lets face it 
> much internet "governance" is very loose)
>  
> But right now with just a few days to go this does not appear 
> to be something IGC is enthusisatic to support, and I am 
> happy t acept that.
> Iwill give some thought to whether I submit this as an 
> individual or not.
>  
> 
> Ian Peter
> 
> PO Box 429
> 
> Bangalow NSW 2479
> 
> Australia
> 
> Tel (+614) 1966 7772 or (+612) 6687 0773
> 
> www.ianpeter.com
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> 	From: William Drake [mailto:william.drake at graduateinstitute.ch] 
> 	Sent: 15 April 2009 19:32
> 	To: governance at lists.cpsr.org; Ian Peter
> 	Subject: Re: [governance] Workshop Proposal - Towards a 
> zero carbon Internet
> 	
> 	
> 	Hi Ian, 
> 
> 	Could I ask you to clarify something.  Last year when 
> there were proposals to make climate change a main theme, 
> some of us argued against it, both on the list and in the 
> consultations (where Nitin agreed).  Our concerns then were two-fold: 
> 
> 	First, while there are obviously links between 
> Internet/ICT usage and CC, it wasn't clear what links were 
> being postulated between IG per se and CC.  Was the 
> contention that existing mechanisms---say, the regulation of 
> registries and registrars, IPV6, or WIPO/WTO regimes----have 
> some discreet, identifiable impact that could be ameliorated? 
>  Or was it that a new mechanism, say a global regulatory 
> agreement on the operation of server farms, should be established?
> There was some good research done but ultimately the linkages 
> remained a bit undefined as a basis upon which to proceed.
> 
> 	Second, some of us were concerned that the IGF 
> shouldn't go off chasing UN hot topics (no pun intended) when 
> so many questions about the actual institutional frameworks 
> and conduct of IG per se had yet to be explored, or at least 
> explored in any meaningful depth.  IGF has generally looked 
> more at "issues" than "institutions," and in many 
> arenas---standards, cybercrime, IPR, e-commerce, etc 
> etc---there's not been much focused discussion of whether the 
> rule systems and decision making procedures in place are 
> optimal, how they distribute benefits across stakeholder 
> groupings, etc.  Sticking with the original mission rather 
> than diluting the focus has been a leitmotif of caucus and 
> caucus member interventions over the years, for good reason.
> 
> 	If we're going to reverse positions, what has changed 
> since then to make this the best use of an IGC proposal slot 
> (we can't have too many), especially when some IOs will 
> probably make similar proposals again?  Do you want to argue 
> for a governance arrangement on energy usage? Or would the 
> steps taken by various actors in their, uh, respective roles, 
> to reduce emissions comprise something more like best practices etc?
> 
> 	Thanks,
> 
> 	Bill
> 
> 
> 	On Apr 13, 2009, at 1:20 AM, Ian Peter wrote:
> 
> 
> 		Let me know what you think of IGC endorsement 
> of a proposal along these lines, or any suggested changes. I 
> appreciate this is a particular interest of mine and a way 
> away from the normal business of IGC, but would be happy to 
> see IGC involved if people feel that way.
> 		 
> 		 
> 		Title Towards a zero carbon Internet
> 		
> 		Concise description
> 		
> 		This workshop is to specifically explore the 
> steps which can be taken by Internet users, but specifically 
> by large private sector and governmental users, to 
> substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with 
> current internet usage patterns and architectures. 
> 		Much investigation in this area has been 
> undertaken and there are some fine private sector examples we 
> can look at. There are also known actions which can be easily 
> adopted which will be outlined during the workshop.
> 		Please note that this workshop should not be 
> combined with workshops looking at measurement of IT 
> greenhouse gas emissions to meet carbon trading scheme 
> requirements. Important as those measures are, they result in 
> an entirely different discussion involving a different set of 
> stakeholders. This workshop is about what can be done 
> immediately and work going on in the field at this time.
> 		
> 		
> 		Relates to theme - 
> 		
> 		Critical Internet Resources
> 		
> 		
> 		If so, who would you approach as co-organizers 
> ? If not, who do you think should organize it?
> 		
> 		
> 		We would seek to have involved represntatives 
> of  Google and VMWare,  a representative of the Internet 
> Architecture Board, a representative of CANARIE (Canada) who 
> have a significant program in this area, IISD, APC and others.
> 
> 		Ian Peter
> 
> 		PO Box 429
> 
> 		Bangalow NSW 2479
> 
> 		Australia
> 
> 		Tel (+614) 1966 7772 or (+612) 6687 0773
> 
> 		www.ianpeter.com
> 
> 		
> 		 
> 
> 		
> 
> 		 
> 	
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> 
> 	
> 	
> 	***********************************************************
> 	William J. Drake  
> 	Senior Associate
> 	Centre for International Governance
> 	Graduate Institute of International and
> 	  Development Studies
> 	Geneva, Switzerland
> 	william.drake at graduateinstitute.ch
> 	New book: Governing Global Electronic Networks,
> 	http://tinyurl.com/5mh9jj
> 	***********************************************************
> 
> 
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