ICTs as a Key Technology to Help Countries Adapt to the Effects of Climate Change

This research paper by the World Resources Institute explores the role of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in helping countries, particularly developing nations, adapt to climate change. It details how ICTs enhance weather forecasting, risk assessment, and the dissemination of critical alerts to vulnerable populations via mobile networks, while highlighting the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) efforts to integrate these technologies into national adaptation plans.

• ICTs, including remote sensing and geographic information systems, are critical for climate risk assessment, allowing for the creation of risk, hazard, and scenario maps to develop disaster risk reduction strategies.
• Mobile telephony has been the primary technology for expanding information access, serving 76% of the world's 6.8 billion people, whereas fixed access networks only serve approximately 17% of the population.
• Africa's weather monitoring infrastructure is significantly underdeveloped, with a network eight times below the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) minimum recommended standard and fewer than 200 automatic weather stations meeting WMO requirements.
• To improve weather data collection and dissemination in Africa, up to 5,000 automatic weather stations are being deployed at cellular sites, with initial efforts focused on Kenya, Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania around Lake Victoria.
• ICTs can mitigate risks to food and water security by providing long-range weather forecasts and monitoring soil and environmental conditions, which helps farmers choose appropriate crops and improves water use efficiency.
• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) supports climate adaptation by assisting governments with disaster risk reduction institutions, developing international standards, implementing early warning systems, and incorporating ICTs into national adaptation plans.

APA

Bueti, C., & Faulkner, D. (2010). ICTs as a Key Technology to Help Countries Adapt to the Effects of Climate Change. World Resources Institute. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-5-response-4.pdf

Chicago

Bueti, Cristina, and David Faulkner. ICTs as a Key Technology to Help Countries Adapt to the Effects of Climate Change. World Resources Institute, 2010. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-5-response-4.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bueti |first1=Cristina |last2=Faulkner |first2=David |title=ICTs as a Key Technology to Help Countries Adapt to the Effects of Climate Change |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=2010 |url=https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-5-response-4.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bueti2010icts, author = {Bueti, Cristina and Faulkner, David}, title = {{ICTs as a Key Technology to Help Countries Adapt to the Effects of Climate Change}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2010}, url = {https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-5-response-4.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }