Climate change is among the biggest challenges humankind has ever faced. No country will remain untouched: some may experience extreme weather events, others severe drought, or sea level rises resulting in the loss of coastal areas. World leaders have been working for several years within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) towards addressing climate change, with the goal of preventing global average temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius, to contain the most severe risks and consequences of climate change. This will require substantial reductions in greenhouse gases (GHGs), in particular CO2 —a daunting task that can only be achieved with transformation to a low-carbon economy.
As the global community gathers in the city of Doha (Qatar) for the 2012 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP18) this side event will discuss the opportunities that broadband networks, services and applications can provide to contribute in such transformation. The event will present the views of high-level representatives from national governments, the private sector and international organizations on the initiative being undertaken globally to mobilize broadband and information and communication technologies (ICTs) to reduce GHG emissions and build inclusive societies.
The event will put a special focus on the solutions being promoted within the Arab region, signaling the launch of the Arabic translation of the report “The Broadband Bridge”, produced by the Broadband Commission for Digital Development under the chairmanship of Hans Vestberg, CEO of Ericsson.