NEW DELHI: Information and communications technology (ICT) can play a major role in combating climate change by encouraging adoption of green practices, experts said Thursday.

"ICT could help in combating climate change, by encouraging, adopting green practices and developing of more energy efficient devices, applications and networks. ICT can be a key enabler which can promote growth by a low carbon economy," said RK Pachauri, director-general of The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri).

He was speaking after releasing a report on "Sustainable Tomorrow: Harnessing ICT Potential", a joint effort by Teri's Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSD) and The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom).

"The report is just a step forward, with a rapid growth of ICT sector makes it imperative that in future, it needs to run in an energy efficient manner," he added.

The experts participating in the event said that the ICT sector is adapting more energy efficient practices like energy efficient cooling, green data centres and e-waste disposal.

Meanwhile, Nasscom president Som Mittal said that the report recognises the potential of ICT sector an effective tool to combat climate change.

The report emphasises the role played by ICT in reducing India's energy requirements by encouraging practices that promote a healthier environment without impeding the economic growth, he added.