ITU Workshop on
“Building a Sustainable Future Through Green ICT
Standards”
(Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013)
Role of Standardisation in tackling the
issues of climate change using ICTs in
Africa
Peter Ulanga,
Universal Communications Service
Access Fund of Tanzania
ulanga@ucaf.go.tz
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013
Questions
How can we use ICTs to tackle issues
related to climate change in Africa ?
How can ICT standards be used to
address Climate change adaptation?
How resilient is the ICT infrastructure
itself to survive effects of climate
change
What can be done to address the subquestions of using ICTs to adapt to
climate change and adapting ICT
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013
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Introduction
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Realities of Climate Change
Different faces of Climate change in
different environment
Role of ICTs in improving lives
Climate change Mitigation vs
Adaptation
ICT Infrastructure and Adaptation
Concluding Remarks
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013
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1. Realities of Climate Change
Without dispute our Climate is
changing the most noticeable effects
are:
Increase in temperature of the
Earth’s surface
More unpredictable Weather patterns
Changes of seasons (macro and
micro level changes)
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013
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Example: Increase in Global
Temperature
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Raising sea level (2m)
project1wards1.mxd
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Northen Pemba Island (Tanzania)
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013
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Different faces of Climate Change
Climate change affects different
geographical areas differently
Coastal areas
Semi-arid regions
Highlands
Islands (etc)
Even when the causes are similar the
effects would depend on geography
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Role of ICTs in realising Sustainable
Future
The role of ICTs in realising
sustainable future cannot be over
estimated
ICTs have revolutionised our world in
more ways than any other single
technological innovation since the
invention of the wheel!
ICTs have transformed our society to
be an information society living in a
global village
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013
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Sustainable future (cont)
It is without doubt proper use of
ICTs would ensure sustainable future
of human population
Challenges caused by climate change
threaten the future of human
population on earth and future of life
on earth!
Proper approach to climate change
through mitigation and adaptation
will ensure life on Earth
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013
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Climate Change Mitigation vs
Adaptation
ICTs can play a role in both cases
Adaptation
Mitigation
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ICT Infrastructure and Adaptation
(typical issues in Tanzania)
Adaptation by ICT infrastructure
Raising sea levels (submarine cable
landing stations), transmission towers
and BTSs in low areas need to be
moved
Reduce power requirements due to
unreliable power caused by drier climate
affecting hydro-power station
Hotter climates higher cooling costs
hence moving towards tropicalised BTSs
Stronger towers for stronger winds
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013
Adaptation by other industries using
ICTs
Water resources management using
ICTs (Egyptian case)
Disaster management using ICTs
Agriculture and food security
Human health and Habitat
Coastal zones and marine ecosystem
Few other examples
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Climate Change Adaptation
While approach differ from country to
country and on specific geography
collective and harmonised approach
is the way to go
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Role of standards
Climate change is a global
phenomenon with local effects
Monitoring of effects for adaptation
should be harmonised to enable to
compare like with like from different
jurisdictions
Examples of climate change
adaptation need to be shared to
ensure consistent approach in
adaptation
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013
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Role of standards(cont)
ICT infrastructure is the most
versatile bi-directional
communication infrastructure which
can be enhanced to enable data
collection for climate change
monitoring. Standards will ensure
consistent approach in using ICT
infrastructure for data collection and
monitoring
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Example : GSM coverage in Tanzania
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Value of standardisation
Standards cross
borders and
provide consistent
and harmonious
way of using ICTs
for monitoring
effects of CC and
hence provide
potential for
consistent
approach towards
adaptation
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013
Standards for
monitoring
Standards for
adaptation
Standards for
mitigation
Standards for
information
dissemination and
reporting
Standards for
deployment
Standards for
equipment suppliers
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L.Infrastructure and Adaptation
…..This draft rec. specifies best practices for
Adapting ICT equipment and using ICTs to
adapt other sectors to the effects of Climate
Change. The Recommendation provides a
set of guidelines, rules, and best practices
to be referred to when planning, designing
or constructing new strategies, policies, and
projects on using ICT to adapt to Climate
Change effects…..
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Conclusions and Recommendations
ICTs can play a
pivotal role in CC
adaptation
National, Regional
and International
coordination is
extremely
important
Standards can fill
the harmonisation
gap
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Member states
contribute to the
development of the
recommendation
L.infra & adaptation
and other
recommendations
Case studies
Issues/challenges
Requirements to be put
on portal
Use the resources
available to harmonise
approaches to CC
adaptation
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