Page 45 - Turning digital technology innovation into climate action

Turning digital technology innovation into climate action

options. They can also support those affected by climate-related migration and urban infrastructural
development. In the agriculture sector, crowdsourcing and the use of drones are helping to gather Chapter 5
information and support those who are directly impacted by climate change.
This chapter explores the ways in which ICTs can help in adapting to the impacts of climate change.

5.1 Using ICTs to establish early warning systems (EWS) and enhance disaster
management

Heat waves and droughts are two of the primary ways in which most people experience severe climate
change. Other consequences of climate change humans are facing include prolonged and intense
stormy periods, and record wind speeds and rainfall. As these extreme weather events are becoming
more frequent and severe, people are being forced to adapt to these catastrophic changes.
ICTs already play a role in disaster prevention, mitigation, response and recovery. Timely, predictable
and effective information are powerful tools for government agencies and other humanitarian actors
involved in rescue operations to make informed and timely decisions.
Therefore, having effective ICT networks and infrastructure is critical to disseminating and circulating
weather and disaster information. It is with this information that disaster response units and cities
can deliver early warnings and alerts to communities that are at risk. Many countries vulnerable to
natural hazards are implementing early warning systems to limit the impacts of climate change.

ICTs are being used all over the world in this regard. Some notable examples are found in Peru, the
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Philippines, Malawi , California (USA), and Mozambique. 12
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9 10 11
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5.2 Using ICTs to enhance food security and support the agricultural sector
A change in the climate means that for the agricultural and agro-pastoral sectors, traditional techniques
and knowledge often no longer apply. Human behaviour and more frequent and extreme weather
events are leading to changes in the environment that require new solutions, and better information
for farmers. ICTs play an important role in this, particularly mobile applications and mobile services,
including SMS. Most popular, tech-based adaptation strategies and climate information services are
based on traditional mobile technology, since mobile services are used to deliver information to
population groups that do not use smartphones or have access to the Internet. Some recent examples

4 Aréstegui, Miguel. ‘Intermediate Climate Information Systems for Early Warning Systems.’ Practical Action, Jun. 2018.
5 The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement ‘Early Warning Can Transform Lives.’ 17 Oct. 2018, media
.ifrc .org/ ifrc/ 2018/ 10/ 17/ early -warning -can -transform -lives/ .
6 Malano, Vicente. ‘Philippine Early Warning System.” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA), 16 Mar. 2015, www .wmo .int/ pages/ prog/ drr/ events/ WCDRR -MHEWS/ documents/
VicenteMalano .pdf.
7 Department of Science and Technology, PAGASA. ‘Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA).” bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/.
8 The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement ‘Early Warning Can Transform Lives.’ 17 Oct. 2018, media
.ifrc .org/ ifrc/ 2018/ 10/ 17/ early -warning -can -transform -lives/ .
9 YellowScan. ‘How LiDAR Works. Discover the Basics of UAV LiDAR.” www .yellowscan -lidar .com/ applications -and -users/
how -lidar -works.
10 Savvides, Lexy. ‘California's Fires Face a New, High-Tech Foe: Drones.’ Cnet, 27 Aug. 2018, www .cnet .com/ news/
californias -fires -face -a -new -high -tech -foe -drones/ .
11 Del Real, Jose A. ‘Can “Big Data” Help Fight Big Fires? Firefighters Are Betting on It.’ The New York Times, 24 June
2019, www .nytimes .com/ 2019/ 06/ 24/ us/ wildfires -big -data -california .html.
12 Rae, Tej. ‘Drones to the Rescue as Cyclone Desmond Storms Mozambique.’ Medium, World Food Programme Insight,
24 Jan. 2019, insight .wfp .org/ drones -to -the -rescue -as -cyclone -desmond -storms -mozambique -d7f501e40b0f.

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