Catastrophic global climate change is not an event poised to happen sometime in the future, it is the reality that we face right now, today. It threatens to increase vulnerability, hinder social and economic development, worsen access to basic services and undermine quality of life. Urgent action is needed to achieve the SDGs, particularly SDG 13, to combat climate change and its impacts.
Digital technologies have many important roles to play in monitoring, mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. The work of ITU cuts across each of these three areas. ITU's work in climate change is also closely linked to WSIS Action Line C7, on e-environment, and together with WMO and UNEP, ITU is a facilitator of this action line.
Monitoring
Climate monitoring is essential in helping us understand and interpret recent changes and be on the lookout for future ones. The work of ITU-R’s Study Group 7 deals with science services and systems for remote sensing and space applications, providing us with vital data on the earth and its atmosphere, helping study and monitor climate change, assist and predict the weather and monitor and predict natural disasters.
- Read more details on Study Group 7’s work areas here.
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Adaptation
Adaptation is how we adapt our lives to and lower the risks posed by actual or expected climate change. ITU's Development Sector has implemented the climate change adaptation project for the Small Island Developing States of the Pacific, supporting emergency communications centers and e-centers for adaptation activities. Additionally, ITU-D’s Study Group Question 6/2 on ICTs and the Environment undertakes studies on ICTs and climate change and identifies ways and means in which ICTs can help to adapt to the effects of climate change.
Furthermore, ITU-T Study Group 5 Question 12/5 on Adaptation to climate change through sustainable and resilient digital technologies is developing standards that support the deployment of digital technologies in accelerating climate adaptation actions. Particular emphasis has been placed on expanding the capacity of rural communities and areas to build and maintain climate resilient ICT infrastructures.
- Read more details on ITU-T Study Group 5 Question 12/5 here.
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Mitigation
Another essential approach towards combatting climate change is working to mitigate its harmful effects. This includes cutting greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2. ITU-T’s Study Group 5 works across the ICT sector, helping it cut its CO2 emissions. Its work helps measure the carbon footprint of ICTs, to facilitate measurement of the impact of ICTs on emissions and support meaningful reporting and comparisons. ITU-T Study Group 5 also develops standards to provide opportunities for digital technologies in mitigating - as well as adapting to the effects of climate change and assisting the transition towards a circular economy.
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Read more on Study Group 5 work areas here and see the list of standards here.
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Reports and publications
Want to find out more how digital innovation can help climate action? ITU’s latest reports tackles the urgency and severity of climate change, along with the role of digital technologies in addressing and contributing to crucial issues of greenhouse gas emissions, the carbon footprint, e-waste and the other social and societal impacts of climate change. Read the report here.
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Want to find out more on how digital technologies can help combat climate change? Explore ITU’s reports and publications here.
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