Title: ICT and the environment in developing countries: opportunities and developments
Author: John Houghton
Pages: 21 pp.
Source: Workshop on “Policy coherence in the application of information and communication technologies for development"
Publisher: OECD, World Bank
Date (published): 31/08/2009
Date (accessed): 05/10/2009
Type of information: conference paper, draft
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
Both developed and developing countries face many environmental challenges, including climate change, improving energy efficiency and waste management, addressing air pollution, water quality and scarcity, and loss of natural habitats and biodiversity. This paper explores how the Internet and the ICT and related research communities can help tackle environmental challenges in developing countries through more environmentally sustainable models of economic development, and examines the status of current and emerging environmentally friendly technologies, equipment and applications in supporting programs aimed at addressing climate change and improving energy efficiency. Discussion focuses on the role of ICTs in: (i) climate change mitigation (e.g. investing in smart transport and energy efficient infrastructure); (ii) mitigating other environmental pressures (e.g. biodiversity loss, water and soil pollution); (iii) climate change adaptation (e.g. adapting to rising sea levels, droughts, desertification); and (iv) international co-operation (e.g. technology transfer and the development of sustainable ICT value chains). This paper provides an overview and points to further information sources where available.

Report for Joint Workshop on “Policy coherence in the application of information and communication technologies for development,” organized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Information for Development Program (infoDev), World Bank, 10-11 September 2009, Paris, France