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TELECOMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT BUREAU (BDT)
ADAPTATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
ITU SYMPOSIUM ON ICT, THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
ACCRA, GHANA
06TH – 10TH JULY, 2011
Presented by: Ms. Elizabeth Nzagi
Director, Legal Affairs
Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority
Agenda
1. The IPCC Projections
2. Options for Developing Countries
3. Framework to Combat Climate Change
4. ICT Contribution to Adaptation
5. What Can Be Done
The IPCC Projection
Climate change is a reality and every human being is affected by it
though in different ways.The causes of climate change are known to
and efforts are done both at national and international level to
respond to climate change.
In 2007 the IPCC projected that:
• Greenhouse gas emissions could rise by 25 – 90 per cent by 2030
• The Earth could warm by 3°C this century. Even with a temperature
rise of 1– 2.5°C the IPCC predict serious effects including reduced
crop yields in tropical areas.
• Spread of climate sensitive diseases such as malaria, and an
increased risk of extinction of 20 – 30 per cent of all plant
The IPCC Projection
• By 2020, up to 250 million people in Africa could be exposed to
greater risk of water stress.
• By 2030 developing countries will require USD 28 – 67 billion in
funds to enable adaptation to climate change.
Options for Developing Countries
Many options and opportunities to adapt exist such as:
• Behaviour change at the individual level, such as reducing water use
in times of drought and using insecticide-sprayed mosquito nets.
• Early warning systems for extreme events,
• Better water management, improved risk management,
• Insurance options
• Biodiversity conservation. Etc.
FRAMEWORK TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE
• International level – UN Framework
Convention oc Climte Change
(UNFCC).This convention commits parties
to develop national programmes and
measures to respond to climate changes.
• Measures that can reduce atmospheric
accumulation of greenhouse gases or
increase terrestrial storage of carbon
• Many countries have ratified the
Convention. Tanzania ratified in 1996
FRAMEWORK TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE
(CONT’D)
• Through the Ministry responsible for
environment Tanzania has put in place a
National Action Plan on climate change in
1997-has short,medium and long
term.Sets priorities for adaptation
• The plan is geared at helping communities
and ecosystems to moderate,cope with or
take advantage of actual or expected
changes in climate change.
FRAMEWORK TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE
(CONT’D)
• To assist communities to improve and
sustain human and technological capacity
for environment.
ICT Contribution to Adaptation
• Much as we know ICT networks have adversely contributed to
climate change ,they are however the best helper of mankind.ICT
systems are used in detecting,monitorin,forecasting ,mitigating
effects of climate change ,and inform.ing
• The systems include radio base remote sensing –terestrial and
satellite , and related telecom infrastructures,mobile radio etc
• Mobile communication can be used to warn the public of hurricanes,
tsunamis and other dangerous weather events
• Satellites areused to disseminate information on different
dissasters both man mad and natural
• Meteorologists use spetrum to forecast weather,rainfall
partens,land degradation and water shortage.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
• Through appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks ICT
can pray a pivotal role and contribute to the adaptation on
climate change as follows:
• Spectrum allocation and management: ensure efficient and
effective use of spetrum .Set aside spectrum to be used
for emergency and for community services (radio, tv,
broadband etc)
WHAT CAN BE DONE? (CONT’D)
Licensing requirements:
 roll-out obligations on universal service.easy flow of information on impending
dangers due to climate change.
• Interconnection obligations –Service
providers to interconnect for ubiquitous
communication
• Quality of service –to ensure good quality
of service and its availability
• Conditions on environment impact
assessment.
FINAL THOUGHT
• Universal access to ICT can help people receive
information quickly on impending dangers due to
climate change.
• The technology can be used to warn people
through allerts should danger be threatening.
• An appropriate ICT policy and regulatory
framework can greatly facilitate climate change
adaptation in developing countries