Download adaptation and climate change impacts: the role of icts

Sixth Symposium on ICTs, the Environment and Climate Change, 7-8 July 2011 Accra-Ghana
DANIEL S. AMLALO
AG. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EPA-GHANA
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Introduction
Climate change- the challenge
Adaptation- What is it?
Climate Change adaptation and ICTs
Conclusion
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Undoubtedly, Climate Change is one of the
greatest complex development challenges of
our time
Its impacts are already visible
Most recent scientific evidence shows the
problem is worsening fast and is already
stretching the ability of human and natural
systems to adapt.
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In Ghana, most sensitive sectors of the
economy such as agriculture, forestry, energy
production, health, internal security etc. are
threatened by Climate Change according to
studies by the Environmental Protection
Agency.
How Climate Change is dealt with today will
have a direct bearing on human development
prospects in future
Experts predict that in many sub-Saharan
African countries, climate change could mean:
1. more frequent drought and floods
2. water scarcity
3. increased health challenges like under-nutrition.
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These new challenges will not only make
achieving the MDGs more difficult, but could
also threaten some of the progress already made
in fighting extreme poverty and diseases.
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Apart from those challenges above, there is
high energy consumption in developing
countries
Again most developing countries, especially,
Africa has become fertile grounds for dumping
of electronic waste (E-Waste)
Change of landscape, etc
These, coupled with other challenges could add
onto the vulnerabilities of communities and
systems to the impacts of climate change
Decline in agricultural productivity
i)
The areas suitable for agriculture
ii)
the length of growing seasons
iii) yield potential of food staples, etc are all
projected to decline.
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Some African countries could see agricultural
yields decrease by 50% by 2050 and crop net
revenues could fall by as much as 90% by 2100.
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Increased water stress: Changing climate
patterns will have important implications for
water availability in Africa. By 2020, an
additional 75-250 million people in Africa are
projected to be exposed to increased water
stress due to climate change.
Rising sea levels
 Across the globe, sea levels could rise rapidly
with accelerated ice sheet disintegration.
 In Africa, highly productive ecosystems, which
form the basis for important economic activities
such as tourism and fisheries, are located in
coastal zones.
 In total, about 70 million people and 30% of the
Africa's coastal infrastructure could face the
risk of coastal flooding by 2080 because of
rising sea levels.
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Risks to human health: Climate change will
affect human health through variables such as
changes in temperature, exposure to natural
disasters, access to food and air quality.
Threats to ecosystems and biodiversity:
Changes induced by climate change are likely
to result in species range shifts and changes in
tree productivity, adding further stress to forest
ecosystems.
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Responding to climate change requires action
on two fronts: firstly "adaptation" to the
consequences of current and future climate
change and secondly "mitigation" of climate
change by drastically reducing global
greenhouse gas emissions, avoiding future
emissions in developing countries and ensure
carbon sinks, like the rainforest are preserved.
The term adaptation encompasses a broad
range of responses that help governments,
communities and individuals cope with the
impact of climate change
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Availability, access to, and dissemination of
information and knowledge remain among the
most challenging aspects within adaptation
processes, particularly in developing regions.
communication and information –about the
problem, solutions and their implications- are
the important needed aspects of the adaptation
process
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The lack of useful information which is
written in an appropriate, non-technical
language, responding to local needs and
priorities about alternative livelihood options,
rights and entitlements, new agricultural
methods, credit programs or relief efforts,
among others, can constrain adaptive actions
or even lead to maladaptation- within
marginalised communities affected by climate
change impacts.
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Within this context, innovative strategies
supported by Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as
mobile phones, community radios, or the
Internet and related applications, could help to
overcome some of the barriers that arise
throughout climate change adaptation
processes.
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Innovations around Infectious Diseases
Extreme weather events and changing climatic
patterns associated with climate change have
been linked to the spread of vector-borne such
as malaria and water-borne diseases.
ICTs such as mobile phones, community radio
and the Internet have the potential to enable
information sharing, awareness raising and
capacity building on key health threats,
enabling effective prevention and response.
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Flood Safeguards
Climatic changes such as increased and erratic
patterns of precipitation negatively affect the
capacity of flood and drainage systems, built
environment, energy and transportation, among
others.
ICT applications such as Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) can facilitate the
monitoring and provision of relevant
environmental information to relevant
stakeholders, including decision-making
processes for the adaptation of human habitats.
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Weather Forecasting Technologies
ICTs play a key role in the implementation of
innovative weather forecasting technologies,
including the integration of community
monitoring.
The use of mobile phones and SMS for reporting
on locally-relevant indicators, for instance
likelihood of floods, can contribute to greater
accuracy and more precise flood warnings to
communities.
Based on this information, authorities could
design and put in more appropriate strategies.
More Resilient Crops
 In the face of higher temperatures, more variable
crop seasons and decreasing productivity, ICTs
have the potential to enhance food security by
strengthening agricultural production systems
through information about :
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pest and disease control
planting dates
seed varieties
irrigation applications
early warning systems
improving market access, etc.
Water Purification, Water Recycling and Efficient
Irrigation Systems
 ICTs can contribute to the improvement of water
resource management techniques, monitoring of
water resources, capacity building and awareness
rising.
 Broadly diffused applications such as mobile
phones can serve as tools to disseminate
information on low-cost methods for desalination,
using gray water and harvesting rainwater for
every day uses, as well as for capacity building on
new irrigation mechanisms, among others.
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Sensors
In addition to the role that sensors play in
monitoring climate change by helping to capture
more accurate data, research indicates that they
also constitute promising technologies for
improving energy efficiency.
Sensors can be used in several environmental
applications, such as control of temperature,
heating and lighting.
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ICTs could play a major role in resilience building
and strengthening adaptive capacity.
ICTs have the potential to tackle climate change
uncertainty not only by providing access to
information and knowledge, but also by fostering
networking, personal empowerment and
participation, facilitating self-organisation, access
to diverse resources and learning, among others,
which ultimately contribute to better
preparedness and response, including the
possibility of transformation in the face of climate
change
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The question for all of us today is; to what
extent are these ICTs facilities/services
available to those who are vulnerable to the
impacts of climate change, especially those in
the developing world??
For instance in terms of;
Affordability especially poor farmers
Sustainable consumption and production
(sustainable development)
4. Awareness creation/raising
5. Research development and education
6. Networking
7. Technology transfer
THANK YOU