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The UK has ranked third in a new ICT sustainability chart, behind Japan and the US.

The UK tied for third alongside Brazil, France, Germany in the IDC ICT Sustainability Index.

“Japan received the top spot by being able to balance its CO2 creation and use, with its GDP, its transportation network, its building infrastructures, and its ICT investments, to establish a sustainable economy and environment,” said Vernon Turner, senior vice president of IDC's enterprise infrastructure, consumer and telecom research arm, in a statement.

“Special mention should go to Brazil for its strong position in the ranking as the leader from all of the emerging nations," he added.

The research also found IT could help cut 5.8 billion tons of carbon emissions by 2020.

For example, the move to smart grids could cut emissions in China by 200 million tons, while the US could save such as 500 million tons.

So-called smart buildings offer the biggest opportunity for emissions savings according to the report, making up as much as 12 per cent of all G20 emissions cuts, the report said.

"As expected, China and the United States have some great opportunities ahead of them,” said Roberta Bigliani, research director at IDC Energy Insights. "The use of software solutions offering energy management systems should be a key focus for them and all of the G20 nations.”