This publication “ICTs and Climate Change Mitigation in Developing Countries” published by EC (2009) ICT for a Low Carbon Economy, European Commission, Brussels and written by Helen Roeth & Leena Wokeck with Richard Heeks & Richard Labelle3.
The publication talks about immediate action required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Developing countries overall are significant emitters, and they must maximize use of ICTs in three ways:
- Green ICT: reducing the emissions from production and use of ICTs themselves
- Smart ICT: using ICTs in other sectors including energy, buildings, transportation, logistics, manufacture and forestry to shrink their carbon footprint
- Community ICT: applying ICTs at community level to reduce energy consumption and substitute for journeys
Developing countries have golden opportunity to leapfrog to low carbon solutions, and to reduce operating costs alongside carbon emissions by investing in emitigation. However, they face important challenges: lack of awareness, capital, skills, appropriate technology and appropriate market/policy regimes.
Action is therefore needed by:
- International organizations: To incorporate ICTs more clearly into low carbon technology transfer and financing
- Governments: To build capacity and partnerships, and to create a business environment that incentivizes both innovation and adoption of emitigation applications
- Businesses: To develop new emitigation solutions appropriate to developing countries, and to drive adoption of such solutions within their entire supply chain
To download the publication, visit the link.
