Envisioning ICT to address climate change
For decades, the United Nations (UN), in particular its specialized agency the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has been promoting the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a means of adapting to and mitigating climate change. However the UN budget is often constrained due to a reluctance by key member states to provide funding. It cannot always execute what it calls for, on its own. Forming partnerships and spurring others is the norm.
Ten years ago, the global telecommunications company Ericsson, founded in Sweden, collaborated with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to produce a paper outlining some key socio-economic innovations that could significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), as follows:
- virtual meetings
- mobile (m)-health
- m-banking
- e-reading subscriptions
- video-on-demand
- smart building
- smart grids
The provision of these and similar services would demand a new, 21st century infrastructure consisting of elements such as high speed networks, fibre optic cable, mobile network radio base stations and high capacity servers. Public and private investment in ICT, along with behaviour-change, could bring about a dramatic transformation of our existing, carbon-dependent economies.
ICT corporations seize some moments
At the precipice of industrial and technological revolutions, there is always resistance to change. Many existing industrial sectors, systems and processes are confronted and threatened by the ICT revolution. A challenge is to transform and adjust to change, and to embrace it. This is not easy – there are rigidities in markets.
Google, among others, is part of the corporate ICT sector that is stepping up its efforts to devise modern solutions for our heating planet, in both developed and developing countries.
Is it time to brief yourself or your group on how our global progress, or stalemate, has come about on the topic of climate change? Would you like to learn more about the ICT solutions being considered? One of our experts, Mr. Arthur Levin, J.D., is a telecommunications lawyer with years of experience on US and global telecommunication and climate issues. As the Delegate representing ITU at major UN global climate negotiations, he helped shape some of the outcomes. His OLI workshop series sheds light on what is happening post-Paris, and provides insights on the ICT solutions that can help us tackle climate change.
See us, above, recording the latest Preview of Mr. Levin’s workshop series. It is now available, so feel free to contact us for a free, private viewing at your leisure. Or, if you wish to make your own OLI workshop with us, here is a description on how we can help you.