Page 5 - Turning digital technology innovation into climate action
P. 5
Table of Contents
Disclaimer ii
List of Figures and boxes iv
Foreword v
Abbreviations and units vii
Executive summary xi
Chapter 1. People, technology and the climate 1
1.1 Climate change: Trends and impacts 3
Chapter 2. Maximising the potential opportunities and minimising the downsides of ICTs 8
2.1 The E-Waste Challenge 8
2.2 Frontier technologies and climate actions 13
2.3 The Limitations of AI and ML 15
Chapter 3. ICTs and climate monitoring 17
3.1 Using ICTs to monitor the global environment/ecosystem 17
3.2 Using ICTs to monitor food security, water transportation and supply 20
3.3 Using ICTs to monitor deforestation and forest degradation 21
Chapter 4. ICTs and climate change mitigation 22
4.1 Using ICTs to improve the energy efficiency in buildings 23
4.2 Using ICTs to improve data centre management 24
4.3 Using ICTs to relieve traffic congestion 25
4.4 Using smart grids to reduce energy demands and accelerate renewable uptakes 25
Chapter 5. ICTs and climate adaptation 30
5.1 Using ICTs to establish early warning systems (EWS) and enhance disaster
management 31
5.2 Using ICTs to enhance food security and support the agricultural sector 31
5.3 Using ICTs for climate-related humanitarian action, migration, and refugees 32
Chapter 6. How ITU is expanding its role in climate action 33
6.1 Assessing the environmental impacts of the ICT sector 33
6.2 Supporting the transition to Smart Sustainable Cities 34
6.2.1 The Key Performance Indicators for Smart Sustainable Cities 35
6.3 Supporting the transition to a circular economy (CE) 37
6.3.1 Building the UN E-waste Coalition 38
6.4 Improving environmental efficiency of frontier technologies 40
Chapter 7. Conclusion 42
References 44
Image Attributions 51
iii