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The UN Climate Change Process & Role of
ICT For Adaptation
Rome, 7 September 2011, ITU Green Standards Week
Chuck Shawcross
Public Information and Media Services
Adaptation Examples
• Adaptation examples include:
a) Behavioural change at the individual level
b) Technological and engineering options
c) Risk management and reduction strategies
d) Promotion of adaptive management strategies
e) Development of financial instruments
f) Promotion of ecosystem management practices
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The climate change issue at international level? What is it?
The climate change issue at international level
- what is it?
• What is the UNFCCC?
a) United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change
b) Kyoto Protocol
• What is the outcome of the 2010 UN Climate Change Conference
in Cancun?
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The UNFCCC- What is it?
The UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change:
• 195 Parties – near universal membership
• The ultimate objective of the Convention:
“… stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” (Art. 2)
• Annual meetings of all Parties at the Conference of the Parties
(COP) to take decisions
• Associated with “Mitigation” measures
a) The UN defines mitigation in the context of climate change, as a human intervention to
reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.
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The UN Climate Change Secretariat? What is it?
The UN Climate Change Secretariat:
• Based in Bonn since 1996
• Provides support to the Parties of the UNFCCC
• Lawyers, scientists, negotiators, administrators
• Organises negotiation sessions, prepares background documents,
compiles emission data, supports regulatory body of international
carbon market
• Around 500 staff
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Outcome of COP 16 in Cancun – Four new institutions
Outcome of COP 16 in Cancun
Agreement on four new institutions that need to be developed in
2011
1) A Green Climate Fund
 to house long-term funds for developing country support
2) Technology Mechanism
 Technology Committee and Climate Technology Centre
3) Adaptation Framework + Committee
4) Registry (at UN Climate Change Secretariat)
 For developing countries to detail voluntary emission reduction
plans and the support they request (“cash for action”)
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Outcome of COP16 in Cancun – outstanding issues
Prospects for COP17 in Durban
Nov – Dec 2011
• Operationalisation of the
 Clean Technology Mechanism
 Adaptation Committee
 Green Climate Fund
• Clarity on the future of the Kyoto Protocol
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Areas of Importance and Action for ICT Sector
Three growing areas of importance and action
for the ICT sector:
a) Own emissions;
• Currently strong focus with proven success
b) Larger role in mitigation;
• Information gathering and analysis
• Process control (micro to macro)
c) Emerging role in adaptation
• Obvious that Adaptation is increasing in importance
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ICT sector’s emerging role in adaptation
• ICT sector’s emerging role in adaptation
• Adaptation is a less mature area than Mitigation
a) Urgency for R&D to fully understand how ICTs can support
adaptation,
• especially in vulnerable developing country regions,
• and at local and community level
• ICT already being used in other pre-emptive adaptation
efforts.
a) Geographic Information Systems for risk assessments to identify
populations and assets that are potentially threatened by climate
hazards.
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Way Forward
• Success of ICT in climate change solutions will
depend to a large degree on stronger cooperation
a) increased cooperation between governments and the private
sector
b) necessary policies and public finance to drive creativity.
c) frameworks and partnerships especially as it concerns
adaptation - at community and local level.
• ICT is critical for tool boxes, foundations and
applications assist in fulfilling policy goals in a
standardized, accountable and verifiable way.
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Technology Mechanism
• The Technology Mechanism created in Cancun
a) fully operational in 2012.
b) goal is to sharpen the focus, step up the pace, expand the
scope and quality of adaptation and mitigation technology
development and transfer support.
c) Will increase collaboration to support the implementation of
technological solutions.
• The success of the mechanism depends to a large
degree on the active involvement of business and
representatives from key sectors, including the ICT
sector.
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Conclusion
• ICT has a unique position with application
across all areas of climate change initiatives
• ICT is already playing a major role in climate
change mitigation and growing application
for adaptation
• How do we ensure ICT contributes at the
highest possible level to this unprecedented
challenge?
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Thank you !
Chuck Shawcross
InformationTechnology Services