ICT is responsible for about 2 percent of global CO2 emissions-similar to shipping or aviation-and is as essential to the future of the global economy as either. What opportunities are there for ICT to improve its own environmental credentials while enabling a low carbon future? What is the geo-political imperative, and how does the shift from products to services or "virtualization in a material world," impact ICT? What are the significant secondary multiplier effects of and the social and societal implications of a "connected planet"?

A panel drawn from the ICT industry, business, government, and NGOs will present on and then discuss the following with the audience:

1. The social, economic, and environmental imperative of tackling climate change
2. Joining up the dots: the government response (global, regional, and local)
3. Who the customer, government, business, or consumer is
4. Going green: the business case, technology challenges, and process

Richard Barrington Head of Public Policy Sun Microsystems UK

Mr. Barrington represents Sun on the United Kingdom's Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change; is a part of the DTI's Information Age Partnership; is a board member of PITCOM, the UK Parliamentary IT Committee; and has just been asked to join the U.K. government's Business Task force on Sustainable Consumption and Production. He has also recently accepted a position on the CBI Environmental Affairs Committee and will be active in setting the organizations strategy on environmental and sustainability issues. He is also an active alumnus of the Business and the Environment program and is an independent trustee of eduserv.

Aled Jones Development Director, Climate Change Cambridge Programme for Industry University of Cambridge

Chris Tuppen Director, Sustainable Development BT

Neil Harris Head of Sustainability and Environment Cisco UK