Climate change is one of the key present development challenges the world faces. It is an important concern addressed in the current policy debate, including the Paris Agreement adopted by the climate change conference in December 2015, the Sendai Declaration and Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ICTs play an important role in limiting climate change, and reducing and adapting to its effects by providing important and innovative tools. ICTs can curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by providing more efficient equipment and tools, and by delivering innovative services and networks.ITU contributed to the adaptation and mitigation of climate change by setting up clean power generation systems through the "Development of Satellite Communications Capacity and Emergency Communications Solutions for the Pacific Island" Project. This project helped to reduce GHG emissions by setting up solar power-based systems for powering some 20 computer centers, using clean power generation systems.
ITU increased the knowledge of Member States on the use of telecommunications/ICTs for climate change adaptation and the importance of green ICT strategies through workshops, which were carried out in those 15 countries that received ICT equipment and training in the aftermath of disasters.
The ITU Regional Forum on Use of ICTs for Transition to Smart and Sustainable Development for Arab states was successfully organized, with around 120 participants attending the Forum and benefitting from 30 high quality presentations.
A regional workshop on technology to mitigate earthquakes and tsunamis effects and EWBS prototype demonstration on tsunamis emergency alert was organized.
ITU contributed to the development of an environmentally friendly early-warning system by setting up solar-powered sirens and control centres in eastern Uganda.
D.5-2 Emergency telecommunications
Countries throughout the world are experiencing increased numbers of natural and human-made disasters. Disasters have a devastating impact on human lives, and important negative effects on sustainable development by disrupting the economy and destroying critical infrastructure and services. LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS are particularly vulnerable to the impact of disasters, since many are not well prepared and lack the capacity to respond.
The critical importance of using telecommunications/ICTs to respond to these devastating phenomena is widely recognized. Because of the role that telecommunications/ICTs play in the phases of a disaster prediction, detection, mitigation, and relief, it is important to develop disaster telecommunications preparedness plans and strategies, including taking account of the need for resilient and redundant infrastructures and systems as part of disaster risk reduction and early warning.
Because disasters often extend beyond the borders of a Member State, effective disaster management may involve the deployment of efforts by more than one country, in order to prevent the loss of human lives and a regional crisis. ITU has facilitated emergency disaster response, strengthened capacity, and improved communications for disaster relief. It helped 15 Member States that were affected by disasters, to re-establish communication networks in the aftermath of a disaster, by delivering direct assistance through the provision of equipment and infrastructure damage assessments, and in reconstructing and rehabilitating telecommunication infrastructure. During these deployments, more than 350 users were trained in the use of satellite telecommunication equipment, during 15 capacity building workshops.
[100]ITU also organized activities to enhance capacities on emergency communications, climate change, smart sustainable cities, e-waste, and related to National Computer Incident Response Teams (CIRTs).
[99] PP Dec.: 5, 13, PP Res. 25, 71, 172, 182; WSIS AL C7 (e-environment) of the Geneva Action Plan is closely linked to Output D.5.1; SDG Targets: 3 (3.9), 5 (5b), 9, 11 (11b), 13 (13.1, 13.2 ,13.3), 14, 15
[100] PP Dec. 5, 13, PP Res. 25, 37, 71, 98, 136, 140, 182, 202; WSIS AL C7; SDGs: 3 (3.9), 5 (5b), 11 (11b), 13 (13.1, 13.2, 13.3), 14, 15
