ICTs Tackling Climate Changes Dr. Amr Badawi Executive President NTRA

Outline Introduction ICT Potential ICT Role Policy Advocacy Egyptian ICT Society Role Conclusion

Introduction Climate change, and variability, has profound impacts on various sectors: Agriculture, Fishery, Water management, Health, Water-related disasters (floods, droughts, landslides), Coastal environment, etc. Among those, Agriculture is the most vulnerable sector. Food supply will be affected under the increasing demand due to population growth which threats food security.

ICT Potential Climate adaptation refers to measures to address changes already occurring as a result of global warming, manage information is an important factor determining the chance for a community to adapt to climate change. ICT has great potential and use in collecting, analyzing, planning and disseminating information on climate change and this is one of the reasons why the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can play an important role in tackling climate change.

ICT Role The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry has a critical role to play in tackling climate change. 1.Making business more efficient and less polluting/ Reducing energy required for productivity in various Sectors 2.Monitoring, Analyzing and Modeling of climate changes 3.Promoting awareness, education, knowledge sharing on climate change 4.Disasters Management and Early Warning Systems

Egypt Faces the Challenge Egypt's concern about global climate change and its consequences on sustainable development comes as crucial. Egypt is facing these challenges responsibly and taking proactive measures to protect its future generations from serious threats that will increase in the absence of actions taken today. A signatory to the 1995 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Egypt has prepared a National Action Plan on Climate Change to coordinate its efforts to face this serious and important challenge, to maintain its sustainable economic development, and to provide a safe environment for its future generations.

Policy Advocacy Using ICTs for monitoring and adapting to climate change and establishing links with environment, agricultural and other livelihood related sectors requires a major shift in ICT policy thinking, including coordinated investment strategies and regional level co-operations.

Conclusion Making a major difference in understanding and acting on climate change. Reducing pollution either directly or indirectly. Reducing the severity of Climate Change impacts and adaptive needs. Governments need to develop robust mitigation policies which include influencing consumer behaviors towards reducing emissions in addition to a major shift in ICT policy thinking. The best way forward is to ensure that both the environmental & business benefits are together in our mind.

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