Role of Standardisation in tackling the issues of climate change using ICTs in Africa

1. ITU Workshop on “Building a Sustainable Future Through Green ICT Standards” (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 15-16 (am) July 2013) Role of Standardisation in tackling the issues of climate change using ICTs in Africa Peter Ulanga, Universal Communications Service Access Fund of Tanzania ulanga@ucaf.go.tz

2. Questions • How can we use ICTs to tackle issues related to climate change in Africa ? • How can ICT standards be used to address Climate change adaptation? • How resilient is the ICT infrastructure itself to survive effects of climate change • What can be done to address the sub-questions of using ICTs to adapt to climate change and adapting ICT

3. Introduction Realities of Climate Change Different faces of Climate change in different environment Role of ICTs in improving lives Climate change Mitigation vs Adaptation ICT Infrastructure and Adaptation Concluding Remarks

4. 1. Realities of Climate Change Without dispute our Climate is changing the most noticeable effects are: • Increase in temperature of the Earth’s surface • More unpredictable Weather patterns • Changes of seasons (macro and micro level changes)

5. Example: Increase in Global Temperature

6. Raising sea level (2m) project1wards1.mxd

7. Northen Pemba Island (Tanzania)

8. Different faces of Climate Change Climate change affects different geographical areas differently • Coastal areas • Semi-arid regions • Highlands • Islands (etc) Even when the causes are similar the effects would depend on geography

9. Role of ICTs in realising Sustainable Future The role of ICTs in realising sustainable future cannot be over estimated ICTs have revolutionised our world in more ways than any other single technological innovation since the invention of the wheel! ICTs have transformed our society to be an information society living in a global village

10. Sustainable future (cont) It is without doubt proper use of ICTs would ensure sustainable future of human population Challenges caused by climate change threaten the future of human population on earth and future of life on earth! Proper approach to climate change through mitigation and adaptation will ensure life on Earth

11. Climate Change Mitigation vs Adaptation Adaptation Mitigation ICTs can play a role in both cases

12. ICT Infrastructure and Adaptation(typical issues in Tanzania) • Adaptation by ICT infrastructure • Raising sea levels (submarine cable landing stations), transmission towers and BTSs in low areas need to be moved • Reduce power requirements due to unreliable power caused by drier climate affecting hydro-power station • Hotter climates higher cooling costs hence moving towards tropicalised BTSs • Stronger towers for stronger winds

13. Adaptation by other industries using ICTs Water resources management using ICTs (Egyptian case) Disaster management using ICTs Agriculture and food security Human health and Habitat Coastal zones and marine ecosystem Few other examples

14. Climate Change Adaptation While approach differ from country to country and on specific geography collective and harmonised approach is the way to go

15. Role of standards Climate change is a global phenomenon with local effects Monitoring of effects for adaptation should be harmonised to enable to compare like with like from different jurisdictions Examples of climate change adaptation need to be shared to ensure consistent approach in adaptation

16. Role of standards(cont) ICT infrastructure is the most versatile bi-directional communication infrastructure which can be enhanced to enable data collection for climate change monitoring. Standards will ensure consistent approach in using ICT infrastructure for data collection and monitoring

17. Example : GSM coverage in Tanzania

18. Value of standardisation • Standards cross borders and provide consistent and harmonious way of using ICTs for monitoring effects of CC and hence provide potential for consistent approach towards adaptation • Standards for monitoring • Standards for adaptation • Standards for mitigation • Standards for information dissemination and reporting • Standards for deployment • Standards for equipment suppliers

19. L.Infrastructure and Adaptation …..This draft rec. specifies best practices for Adapting ICT equipment and using ICTs to adapt other sectors to the effects of Climate Change. The Recommendation provides a set of guidelines, rules, and best practices to be referred to when planning, designing or constructing new strategies, policies, and projects on using ICT to adapt to Climate Change effects…..

20. Conclusions and Recommendations • ICTs can play a pivotal role in CC adaptation • National, Regional and International coordination is extremely important • Standards can fill the harmonisation gap • Member states contribute to the development of the recommendation L.infra & adaptation and other recommendations • Case studies • Issues/challenges • Requirements to be put on portal • Use the resources available to harmonise approaches to CC adaptation