Centre for Development Informatics

Understanding ICTs, Climate Change and

Development

Angelica V. Ospina and Richard Heeks

Centre for Development Informatics

University of Manchester, UK

http://www.manchester.ac.uk/cdi

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Outline

Background

1.Evolution of the ICTs & Climate Change Field

2.ICTs, Climate Change & Development Model

3.Strategic Implications

Conclusions

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Background• ‘Climate Change, ICTs and Innovation’ project (2009-2011).

• CDI in partnership with Canada’s IDRC.

• ‘Unveiling the Links between ICTs and Climate Change in Developing Countries: a Scoping Study’: http://www.niccd.org/ScopingStudy.pdf

• ‘Linking ICTs and Climate Change Adaptation: A Conceptual Framework for e-Resilience and e-Adaptation’: http://www.niccd.org/ConceptualPaper.pdf

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1. Evolution of the Debate: 1990’s - 2010

Global

DC- Specific Theory

Sustainable Development

Climate Change

(Mitigation)

Climate Change

(Adaptation)

DC-Specific Practice

(a) (b) (c)

Strand 1 Strand 2 Strand 3

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C

Physical Consumption

-Dematerialisation of Goods/Services

Journey Substitution

Physical Production

-Shift to Knowledge Economy

Energy Generation & Distribution

-Smart Power/Grid

Energy Use

Manufacture & Use:-ICTs (Green vs. Brown IT)-Smart Motors/Logistics-Smart Building Design-Smart Transport

e-Enabled:

-Carbon Markets

-Decision-Making

-Policy networks

-Awareness/Capacity-Building

-Technology Transfer

-CC Data Capture

-CC Data Processing

-CC Data Presentation and Dissemination

Application Areas/ CC Related Vulnerabilities

-Socio-polítical

-Livelihoods & Finance

-Health

-Habitat

-Food (Agriculture)

-Water

ICTs Adaptation Role

-Measuring

-Informing & Networking

-Deciding:

Predicting (Risk, Early Warning)

•Planning (inc. Local Mitigation)

•Coping (Short-Term/ Disaster)

•Adapting (Long-Term)

-Transacting

-Producing

-Mobility

Mitigation

(Causes)

Strategy

Monitoring

Adaptation

(Effects)

2. ICTs, Climate Change & Development Model

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3. Strategic Implications

Shifting Priorities towards Developing Countries

Close Linkages between ICTs, CC & Vulnerability

ICTs in the CC Field: Acknowledging the Challenges

Fostering Knowledge Sharing

Positioning Resilience

Emerging Areas for Research

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Adaptation to Climate Change: e-Resilience Approach

Vulnerability Context

Livelihood System

Acute Shocks

Chronic Trends

Climate Change

Vulnerability Dimensions

Livelihood Determinants

•Assets

•Institutions

•Structures

Livelihood Capabilities

Functionings

System Levels:

MACRO

MESO

MICRO

ADAPTATION/ADAPTIVE ACTIONS

Development Outcomes

Resilience Sub-properties

Robustness Scale Redundanc Flexibility Self-organisation

Learning EqualityRapidityICTs

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Emerging Areas of Research

a) Mitigation:

b) Monitoring:

c) Adaptation:

•ICTs & community-level mitigation

•ICTs & global supply chains

•ICTs & emerging consumer trends

•ICTs & new business practices

•ICTs, CC Monitoring & Local Empowerment

•ICTs & Localisation

•ICTs & Sustainable Livelihoods

•ICTs, Local Voices & Awareness Raising

•ICTs & Emerging Social Aspects of CC

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Emerging Areas of Research

d) Strategy:

e) Disaster Management:

f) New and Emerging Technologies

g) Resilience and the role of ICTs

•ICTs & Social Inclusion

•ICTs & Governance Challenges and Opportunities

•ICTs & Decision-Making Processes

•ICTs Role within Disaster Management strategies

•ICTs Impacts & Issues

•New & Emerging Low-cost Applications

•e-Resilience and Systemic Adaptation

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Commissioning of Six Thematic Papers:

ICTs and Climate Change Mitigation in the Context of Emerging Economies

(Helen Roeth and Leena Wokeck).

Disaster Management, Communities & Climate Change: Role of ICTs (Nonita

T. Yap).

ICT-Enabled Development of Climate Change Adaptive Capacity

(Laxmi Prasad Pant). 

Informational Governance of Climate Change Institutions in Developing

Countries (Laurence Delina).

Climate Change as a Strategic Priority for ICT4D Organisations

(Alan Finlay).

New and Emerging ICTs for Climate Change and Development

(Stan Karanasios).

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Conclusions

• From short-term to short- and long-term climate change-

related impacts.

• Consideration of both opportunities and challenges.

• From reductive to systemic perspectives: broader

development context and resilience.

• Next Steps 2011: Case studies, strategy briefings, book,

& final international workshop.

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Useful Links

• NICDD Project Website: www.niccd.org

• Online Network on ICTs, Climate Change

& Development:

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/niccd

• Blog: http://niccd.wordpress.com/