October 08 Thursday 16:30 – 18:00 Session DEV.4 Room F ICTs and climate change in developing economies In September 2008, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) organized a session with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to highlight the benefits of mainstreaming climate change as part of overall approach to sustainable development. Climate change is challenging our ability to achieve the economic and social objectives underpinning sustainable development. This Session considers the key issues currently on the table for developing economies with regard to climate change, the role of ICT and sustainable development. KEY QUESTIONS: – How can the priorities of adapting to climate change be aligned with sustainable development? – What role can be played by the ICT sector? – What priority should developing economies give to climate change? – What role can ICTs play in creating synergies between adapting to climate change and development priorities? Moderator To be announced, Panellists Mr Dan Bross, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs, Microsoft (United States) Mr Parvez Iftikhar, CEO, Universal Service Fund Pakistan (Pakistan) Mr Bhushan Raj Shrestha, Chairman, Nepal Research and Educational Network (NREN) (Nepal) Dr Carolin Richter, Director, GCOS Secretariat, WMO Mr Patrick Kalas, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (Switzerland) Mr Souheil Marine, Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 78