Technological paths to sustainability:
Opportunities for climate adaptation
ITU Symposium on ICTs and Climate Change
17-18 June 2008, London
Thomas E. Downing
with
Rasmus Klocker Larsen (SPIDER), Fernanda Zermoglio (SEI),
John Corbett (AWhere)
and colleagues
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Adaptation as a socio-institutional process
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Emerging case studies
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Awhere: spatial information
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Climate Change Explorer
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weADAPT wiki
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Adaptation as social networking
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M-PESA
Conclusions
Adaptation processes
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Value of information is in making a decision
Capacity to 'add' climate adaptation is limited in
many vulnerable regions
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Learning by doing and pilot actions
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Can we protect everything?
Vulnerability
Vulnerability
assessment
assessment
Capacity
Capacity
Piloting
Piloting
Protection
Protection
Providing spatial information
Vulnerability
Vulnerability
assessment
assessment
Providing climate change ranges
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Multiple models
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Examine seasonal,
multi-annual and spread
of climate behavior
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Compare and explore
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Import, download, graph,
difference the data (look
at expected changes)
Data Available and Plans for 2008
Vulnerability
Vulnerability
assessment
assessment
Green- Currently available
Yellow- Potential data for
2008
Environmental reporting systems
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300 automated
weather stations
Central web site
(free access)
HAII provided
added-value
services
Source: Royol Chitradon, Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute, www.haii.or.th
Note: UNEP plans to use long term environmental monitoring networks
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weADAPTwiki
Self-organizing
Engaging in collaborative
communities
Ceding control, sharing responsibility
Capacity
Capacity
Adaptation as social networking
Compare Methods
& Choose
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Exploring by Methods
Capacity
Capacity
Which options were
chosen by people I trust?
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Exploring by Networks
Micro-transfers in risk management
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Response to emerging crises: micro-insurance
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Risk diversification
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Social networking
Piloting
Piloting
Climate protection
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Promises?
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Hard vs soft technology?
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Open vs. closed systems of working?
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Anticipating surprise?
Protection
Protection
Conclusions
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Role of local information networks
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Swedish Programme for ICT in Developing Regions (SPIDER)
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Link between ICT and poverty alleviation is not so clear cut
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Issues of history, power, gender and governance in the
development process
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User engagement at all steps in development cycle
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Role of private sector in driving adaptation
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Getting to maybe: Role of social entrepreneurs in navigating
transitions