The second meeting of the RSPG working group to help combat Climate Change (RSPG CC) was held last 7 May by videoconference. The group, co-chaired by Denmark (Robert Lindgaard) and Ireland (Rory Hinchy), was created in late 2019 and is meant to identify and make proposals about how policies concerning spectrum can help combat climate changes.
The meeting counted nearly 30 participants representing the member-states and the European Commission (EC) and was chaired by a member of the Danish delegation (Victor Lopez).
The meeting served to debate and improve the list of topics the group intends to develop, which are subdivided into the following two questions and respective topics (the list of topics already reflects the changes understood to have been conveyed at this meeting):
Question 1: Identify climate change-related aspects within spectrum management.
Topic 1: Possibilities to decrease the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of wireless technologies.
Topic 2: Responding to spectrum needs in other sectors – how wireless solutions are helping various sectors to become more environmentally friendly.
Topic 3: The need to protect spectrum usages relevant for monitoring climate change or gathering climate-related data.
Topic 4: EU Green Deal (summary of the issues relevant for the spectrum policy).
Question 2: How can spectrum management help combat climate change?
Topic 5: The legal basis for monitoring climate protection measurements in spectrum management.
Topic 6: Possible administrative instruments for spectrum management.
Topic 7: Discussion of possible issues associated with introducing climate protection aspects in spectrum management.
All the listed topics were deemed relevant and should be developed.
This meeting also reviewed the work of the subgroup, ascertaining that the pandemic has not had much impact. It was nevertheless noted that this is because the work is only just beginning and that the situation will certainly be different during the phase when the proposed RSPG opinion is being finalised.
The next remote meeting of RSPG CC has been scheduled for 2 June 2020.
