Cisco Selected as Official Technology Partner for U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen

Cisco TelePresence Will Facilitate Key Discussions During Global Climate Change Negotiations

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Cisco today announced that it has been selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark as the official technology partner for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15), which will take place in Copenhagen from 7 December to 18 December 2009.

Cisco is working with the Danish government to deploy Cisco TelePresenceTM systems and networking solutions that will connect the Bella Centre conference venue with cities around the globe. Through TelePresence, government representatives, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations and the press will, for the first time, be able to conduct important meetings and climate negotiations with stakeholders in their home countries or other locations while they are in Copenhagen. This new offering is part of the Danish government’s commitment toward making COP15 as environmentally friendly and collaborative as possible. Cisco TelePresence will also be used to enable virtual in-person collaboration between the United Nations and Danish hosts prior to the conference.

The Conference of the Parties is an annual gathering of the members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to assess progress in dealing with the issue of climate change. The objective of the COP15 conference in Copenhagen is to set a global agreement between all of the countries of the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities.

“There is a lot at stake for our planet at COP15. As the host country, Denmark is well aware of its responsibility,” said Svend Olling, head of department, Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “It is our ambition to find innovative ways for all parties to the convention as well as civil society representatives to cooperate efficiently and in a sustainable way in order to reach an ambitious deal at COP15 in Copenhagen. To this end, we are thrilled to have Cisco as our official technology partner.”

Cisco TelePresence creates a live, face-to-face collaboration experience over the network that empowers people to collaborate like never before. CTS helps people virtually meet “in person” without traveling, share content, and create high-quality video recordings and events, all using the power of the network for an immersive in-person experience. Participants in the COP 15 meetings in Denmark will use CTS to communicate face to face with colleagues and stakeholders in their home nations.

“Technology has a critical role to play in helping to address the world’s environmental challenges. Enabling technologies such as video, virtualization and unified communications help to reduce the amount of energy we consume and our need to travel, enabling us to live a more efficient and sustainable lifestyle,” said Laura Ipsen, Cisco senior vice president of Global Policy and Government Affairs and co-chair of Cisco’s EcoBoard. “Cisco TelePresence and networking solutions will allow participants of COP 15 to effectively collaborate with experts in their home countries, enabling them to share all the information needed to reach an agreement with minimal impact on the environment.”

Cisco is committed to a high level of environmental responsibility in its business operations, culture, products and customer solutions. Cisco’s vision is for the power of technology to transform how the world manages its environmental and energy challenges. Internally, Cisco has deployed 482 TelePresence units in more than 160 locations, which has allowed it to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from business travel by almost 123,000 metric tons.
About the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

As host country, Denmark is responsible for all practical aspects of organizing COP15 in close cooperation with the UN Climate Change Secretariat. Within Denmark, the Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for logistics and communication pertaining to COP15. For more information visit www.cop15.dk
About COP15

COP15 is the 15th annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. For more information visit www.unfccc.int.
About Cisco

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For more news, visit http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco equipment in Europe is supplied by Cisco Systems International BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.

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