Stephen Young is currently undertaking a piece of work for the ITU on the relationship between ICTs and climate change, and the role for regulators. The paper will be presented at the 10th Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) later this year, and will become a chapter in the ITU's Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2010. The paper is currently is currently in draft outline, but a long list of questions about the role for ICT regulators regarding climate change is now emerging. Please drop an email or phone (see contact page) if you have any thoughts or comments to add.

Meantime, here's the current (non-exhaustive) list of questions about ICT regulators and climate change:

- given the seriousness of the issue, is there a role for ICT regulators in developing policies that seek to address climate change?

- what is the legal vires for regulators to intervene in markets to pursue policies related to climate change?

- would interventions based on reducing climate changing GHGs require changes to the primary duties/enabling legislation for regulators?

- what form should such policies take, if the chosen measures are not to add further burdens to the ICT sector?

- should there be best practice guidelines for regulators on integrating a stronger environmental focus into their activities - is there a role for regulators in driving demand for "environment conscious" ICT services and devices, and promoting positive effects of new ICT technologies, without imposing unnecessary financial burden on market players and consumers?

- how do regulators create a policy framework to reduce the ICT sector's own carbon footprint and to embrace environment-friendly technologies and processes in ICT development (e.g., Green IT initiative in Japan, etc.)

- should ICT regulators include emissions targets in ICT company performance targets?

- is there scope for regulators to require ICT players to adapt to climate change, eg in terms of network and service resilience, disaster recovery etc that go beyond existing regulatory requirements for, eg, Quality of Service?

 - given the twin forces of liberalization and technological innovation, and the consequent proliferation of new services and applications, which ICT players should be subject to climate change regulation?

- how do regulators ensure a level playing field between "traditional" players such as fixed and mobile network operators, and new ICT service providers, which can generate rapid growth of GHGs?

 - how do regulators ensure that sector players are able to plan effectively, by announcing climate change policy measures as early as possible?

- should regulators be required to incorporate measures to reduce GHGs into their policy and regulatory decisions?

 - should regulators join with the ICT industry to lobby for a carbon tax, stimulating demand for carbon-reducing innovations and processes in other sectors? - should regulators be pressing for advanced implementation of emissions-reducing technology in ICTs?

- where is the boundary between measures that affect all sectors and measures that are ICT-specific?

- is there scope for less severe regulatory measures which recognize the positive externality the sector creates in reduce energy consumption in other sectors?

- what is the role of NRAs in creating an enabling environment for the development of new ICT services & applications to reduce GHGs in other sectors, eg in working to ensure ubiquitous high-capacity connectivity to enable teleworking, and generally increase productivity in other sectors?

- should NRAs create concrete incentives for GHG-reducing practices in ICT development (e.g., subsidies through Universal Service Funds for network deployments using renewable energy; incentives for sharing vs, duplicating infrastructure, changing the role of handset subsidies, etc.)

- should NRAs be developing targeted policies and regulations in key areas such as promoting renewable energy sources; power consumption (or the use of energy efficient technologies and equipment (e.g., Next Generation Networks); disposing of electronics and effectively handling e-waste, climate monitoring.

- what is the NRA's role in developing standards for energy savings in ICT equipment?

And last, but not least, invoking the old chesnut of "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" or "Who will guard the guards themselves?"

- should we expect ICT regulators to set an example when it comes to their own carbon footprints?

- and who will ensure that regulators toe the line?