Japan Remains Atop ICT Sustainability Index

Japan continues to lead the G20 nations with a significant margin over the United States, France, Germany, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

  • Apr 22, 2011

IDC ICT Sustainability Index Results

Country

2009 Index Score 2011 Index Score 2011 Tier Value
Japan 16 17 Tier 1
United States 20 21 Tier 2
France 21 21 Tier 2
Germany 21 21 Tier 2
Brazil 21 22 Tier 2
United Kingdom 21 22 Tier 2
Italy 23 24 Tier 3
Canada 24 24 Tier 3
Mexico 30 30 Tier 4
South Korea 32 33 Tier 4
Turkey 32 33 Tier 4
Australia 33 33 Tier 4
China 32 35 Tier 5
Russia 38 37 Tier 5
India 37 38 Tier 5
Argentina 38 39 Tier 5
Saudi Arabia 37 39 Tier 5
South Africa 41 40 Tier 5
Indonesia 41 42 Tier 5

Source: IDC ICT Sustainability Index, April 2011.

Japan continues to lead the G20 nations with a significant margin over the United States, France, Germany, Brazil and the United Kingdom in the ICT Sustainability Index, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). Within the top tier of countries, the United States’ score fell slightly, moving it into a three-way tie for the no. 2 position with France and Germany, both of which maintained the same score as last year. Similarly, the United Kingdom slipped to no. 3, tied with Brazil. China's Score dropped by three points, largely affected by increased CO2 emissions as its economy avoided the economic slowdown by meeting its energy demands via fossil-fueled power stations. Russia and South Africa were the only countries among the G20 to improve their scores over the 2009 results.

This was the second year for the ICT Sustainability Index, which ranks G20 nations’ ability to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions through the use of Information and communication technologies (ICT). Economic challenges had a significant influence on the 2011 Index Scores, limiting the impact of ICT investments and slowing the adoption of renewable energy sources over fossil fuels.

"We expected the global recession to have a marked impact on the balance between ICT and economic development, and indeed it showed up, in particular with China," said Vernon Turner senior vice president of IDC's enterprise infrastructure, consumer, and telecom Research. "However, IDC believes that China's significant investments in sustainability through its twelfth Five-Year Plan will help improve its ranking as it benefits from its renewable energy strategy combined with its intelligent economy plans."

The index was created using data sources that reflect energy creation, consumption, and ICT spending among the G20 nations over the past two years. Events from 2011 – including the Japanese earthquake and tsunami – were not taken into account in generating this year's scores.

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