ICTs and e-Environment Overview of BDT Scoping Study for Developing Countries
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ICTs and e-Environment Overview of BDT Scoping Study for Developing Countries 6 February 2008 ICT Applications and Cybersecurity Division Telecommunication Development Sector International Telecommunication Union International Telecommunication Union Overview Background Objectives of study ICTs for environment: facts & trends Environmental issues grow in importance Effects of ICTs Draft Recommendations e-Environment strategic planning framework Possible next steps January 2008 2 Background Principal investigators: ¾ Richard Labelle (The Aylmer Group) with input from Ralph Rodschat (independent advisor) and Tony Vetter (International Institute for Sustainable Development) Deliverable: Programme 3 Scoping Paper (now ~200 pages) Work started August 2007 First draft January 2008 Revised final version March 2008 See www.itu.int/ITU-D/cyb/app/e-env.html January 2008 3 Objectives of Study To understand impact of ICTs as tools for dealing with environmental issues in developing countries Scope on e-Environmental matters: ¾ Observation ¾ Analysis ¾ Planning ¾ Management & protection ¾ Impact & mitigating effects of ICTs ¾ Capacity building January 2008 4 ICT Applications Observation Observation Growing number & type of remote sensing technologies and platforms Analysis Analysis Growing processing power, efficiency, storage capacity & intelligent algorithms SatelliteObservation Observation • •Satellite • Direct Sensors • Direct Sensors (Air,Water, Water,Soil) Soil) (Air, • Human Observation • Human Observation DataArchives Archives • •Data GISSystems Systems • •GIS SystemModeling Modeling • •System • Grid Computing • Grid Computing DataCorrelation Correlation • •Data Forecasting • •Forecasting • Policyformation formation • Policy Planning Planning Managementand and Management Protection Protection Growing broadband & wireless connectivity: GRIDs and clouds CapacityBuilding Building Capacity ICTMitigation Mitigation ICT January 2008 Growing miniaturization & digitization, Web 2.0 and beyond services Implementation • •Implementation Enforcement • •Enforcement ICToperation operation • •ICT • Telecommuting • Telecommuting Collaborativetools tools • •Collaborative PublicAwareness Awareness • •Public • Professional Dev’t • Professional Dev’t Education • •Education 5 ICTs for the Environment: Facts and Trends Massive amounts of digital data including imagery available online to support research and decision-making Better understanding of the environment and environmental change ¾ Environmental/climate models are more accurate and predictive January 2008 6 Environmental issues grow in importance Growing population ¾ Growing industrial activity and pollution, growing GHG emissions ¾ Growing human populations in more environmentally sensitive areas with lower carrying capacities ¾ Growing human populations in areas that are more disaster prone Weather events more severe IPCC Fourth Assessment Report shows climate change is real and need for action is critical People everywhere more environmentally aware & concerned January 2008 7 Effects of ICTs 1st Order: ¾ Negative impact of resources and energy to operate ICTs 2nd Order: ¾ Efficiency gains from ICTs Telecommuting, dematerialization Supply chain and production efficiency ¾ Structural benefits Transportation efficiency Warehousing and infrastructure efficiency 3rd Order ¾ Behavioural adaptation Consumer Political priorities Needs more research January 2008 8 Draft Recommendations Awareness promotion about importance of ICTs for environmental decision-making and action ¾ Get decision-makers on board Strengthen capacity of developing countries to use ICTs for sustainable development ¾ Work within existing mechanisms: National development planning frameworks & priorities, international multilateral aid frameworks, ITU, WMO, OECD DAC, PRSP process, etc. ¾ Work closely with UNEP-WCMC, GEO and others Develop and promote e-Environment strategies ¾ Develop national planning framework & toolkit Help countries acquire direct fiber access to IP backbone January 2008 9 National e-Environment Strategic Planning Framework Assessment Consultation and awareness promotion Vision statement, goals Strategy: ¾ Policies ¾ Development objectives ¾ Immediate objectives Action plan Performance indicators (RBM → PRSP indicators) Monitoring and evaluation January 2008 10 Possible Next Steps (1) Circulate report, gather feedback (2 months) Consult with key partners (2-3 months): ¾ ITU Member States, ITU, WMO, UNEP (UNEP-WCMC, UNEP-GRID, Convention Secretariats), FAO, UNESCO, WHO, UNIDO, UNDP, other UN specialized agencies and programmes, UN Regional Commissions, GEF, WSIS partners, World Bank, etc. ¾ Regional environmental centres/groups: AOSIS, REC (Budapest), Bogor (Biotrop, etc.), IICA/CATIE (Costa Rica), IDRC, IISD ¾ Key private sector partners: ICT industry (e.g. GeSI), business associations (WBCSD) January 2008 11 Possible Next Steps (2) Consult with key partners (2-3 months) cont’d: ¾ Environmental / agriculture organizations: IUCN, WWF, FOE, IIED & other stakeholders CGIAR & NARS (National agriculture research services) ¾ Researchers: IPCC, ICSU, GEO/GEOSS, etc. Research associations, networks and centres, etc. January 2008 12 Possible Next Steps (3) Option: undertake rapid e-Environment plans in 6 countries TBD (6 - 12 months) ¾ Develop proposals ¾ Gather feedback ¾ Seek support ¾ Implement Undertake e-Environment strategies and action plans in selected countries BDT Programme 3 develops national e-Environment toolkit January 2008 13 More Information ITU-D ICT Applications and Cybersecurity Division ¾ www.itu.int/itu-d/cyb/ ITU-D e-Environment home page ¾ www.itu.int/ITU-D/cyb/app/e-env.html January 2008 14 International Telecommunication Union Helping the World Communicate January 2008 15
