ITU contributed to climate change mitigation and adaptation through the development of satellite communication capacity for use with clean power-generation systems and by providing emergency communications solutions with the implementation of the Climate Change Adaptation Component of the Satellite Communications, Capacity, and Emergency Communications Solutions Project for the Small Island Developing States of the Pacific. A project has also helped set up solar power-based systems to supply some 20 computer centres, minimizing GHG emissions.
ITU enhanced understanding among Member States of the ways in which telecommunications/ICTs can be used for climate change adaptation, and stressed the importance of green ICT strategies through workshops held in the 20 countries that received ICT equipment and training in the aftermath of disasters. ITU also contributed to the development of an environmentally friendly early-warning system by setting up solar-powered sirens and control centres in eastern Uganda.
ITU made an important step in improving the quality and availability of e-waste statistics. ITU, in collaboration with the United Nations University (UNU) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), set up the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership, the main objectives of which are to provide countries with the capacity they need to produce reliable and comparable e-waste statistics, collect country data and build a global e-waste database to track developments over time and provide policy-makers and industry with the information thus gathered. In December 2017, ITU published the Global E-waste Monitor 2017, produced together with UNU and ISWA.
D.5-2 Emergency telecommunications [92]
ITU has facilitated emergency disaster response, strengthened capacity and improved communications for disaster relief, and has helped more than 20 Member States affected by disasters to re-establish their communication networks by delivering direct assistance and infrastructure damage assessments and by helping in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure. During these deployments, over 400 users attended 20 capacity-building workshops and received training in the use of satellite telecommunication equipment. ITU also contributed to saving lives by designing and deploying early warning systems for floods and mudslides.
ITU’s Second Global Forum on Emergency Telecommunications (GET-2016): Saving lives, was held in Kuwait from 26 to 28 January 2016. It increased the awareness and capacity of countries to take advantage of ICTs for emergency telecommunications and enhanced the dialogue between disaster-management experts. The forum was attended by more than 500 participants from ITU Member States, industry, UN agencies, NGOs, academics and humanitarian organizations. The event highlighted the important role of telecommunications/ICTs in the implementation of the Sendai Framework, and made recommendations on how to use ICTs to support countries in attaining the SDGs.
[91] WTDC Res. 17, 21, 30, 32, 37, 50, 52, 53, 66; PP Dec. 5, 13; PP Res. 25, 71, 182; WTSA Res. 73; WSIS Action Lines C7; SDG Targets 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15.
[92] WTDC Res. 1, 5, 17, 21, 30, 32, 34, 37, 50, 52, 53, 69; PP Dec. 5, 13; PP Res. 25, 37, 71, 98, 136, 140, 182, 202; WRC Res. 646, 647; WCIT Res. 2; WSIS Action Lines C7; SDG Targets 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15
