Information and communications technology (ICT) has strong impacts on the global environment in both positive and negative sides. One is the environmental load which telecommunications networks operation creates, from the use of energy and natural resources, and the emissions of CO2 and wastes. The other side is how ICT can reduce the environmental load by dematerialization and optimization of transportations and shipping.
This paper describes the eco-efficiency of ICT services. For example, we analyzed the impact of the videoconferencing on the environment by calculating the environmental loads of videoconferencing and by comparing that of business trip conferencing. It was clarified that transportation was the main factor for the reduction of the environmental loads, such as CO2 emissions and energy consumption, and its effect largely depends on the conditions including the distance between participants and frequency of meetings.
