Overview of Potential of ICT in Urban Environmental Management

1. Overview of Potential of ICT in Urban Environmental Management M. Aslam Khan Chief, Environment Section

2. Outline • ICT tools and environmental initiatives • ICT and environmental management • ICT in urban environmental management under the Kitakyushu Initiative • Challenges and Issues

3. ICT Tools and Environmental Initiatives ICT: Information and Communication Technologies • the Internet (websites, discussion forums, networking) • personal computers • digital cameras • personal digital assistance • video-conferencing • geographic information systems In recent years, people are using various ICT equipment such as

4. Digital Economy and the Environment Since ICT can be such a powerful tool on many occasions in human activity, its further development will result in drastic changes in a number of areas including • production process • distribution system • consumer behaviour • policy and decision making process • lifestyles and values of people • public participation

5. ICT Applications in Urban Environmental Management • Increased information accessibility, particularly for remote regions and disadvantaged social groups • Enhanced public awareness and greater public involvement • Faster collection, processing and more accurate quantitative analysis of environmental data • More transparent and effective local environmental governance • Improved networking • Reduced cost

6. ICT and Urban Environmental Management under the Kitakyushu Initiative • Monitoring and modeling • Information sharing • Online public participation/deliberation • Distance learning • Assistance in Policy formulation

7. Monitoring and Modeling • Monitoring and modeling technologies can potentially help environmental policymakers in improving both the quality and efficiency of environmental data collection and analysis • Monitoring and modeling in air pollution • Motoring and modeling in waste management

8. Information Sharing • Scarcity of relevant and reliable information has always been a substantial obstacle to more effective urban environmental management • Online access of information by stakeholders • Online networking of relevant stakeholders helps with sharing of experiences and good practices

9. Online Public Participation/Deliberation • Public comments via emails and discussion forums • Online public campaigns • Public scrutiny and pressure stimulate necessary actions

10. Distance Learning • Widened access for environmental education • Enhanced awareness building • Reduced cost

11. Assistance in Policy Formulation • Communications among stakeholders contribute to effective policy formulation and sound decision-making • Local knowledge incorporated in policy with consensus building • Transparent and participatory approach • Enhanced policy implementation

12. Challenges and Issues • Infrastructure problems • Quality of data and its security • Regulatory and institutional framework • Financial and technical resources • Human resource development