Author and Institution:
Helen Roeth, CSR Asia Center at AIT, Hong Kong
Leena Wokeck, CSR Asia Center at AIT, Hong Kong
Richard Heeks, University of Manchester
Richard Labelle, Independent ICT4D Consultant

Outline:
Urgent action is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Developing countries overall are significant emitters, and they must maximise use of ICTs in three ways:

  • Green ICT: reducing the emissions from production and use of ICTs themselves.
  • Smart ICT: using ICTs in other sectors – energy, buildings, transportation, logistics, manufacture and forestry – to shrink their carbon footprint.
  • Community ICT: applying ICTs at the community level to reduce energy consumption and substitute for journeys.

Developing countries have an opportunity to leapfrog to low-carbon solutions, and to reduce operating costs alongside carbon emissions by investing in e­-mitigation. However, they face important challenges: lack of awareness, capital, skills, appropriate technology, and appropriate market/policy regimes.

Action is therefore needed by:

  • International organisations: to incorporate ICTs more clearly into low­-carbon technology transfer and financing.
  • Governments: to build capacity and partnerships, and to create a business environment that incentivises both innovation and adoption of e­-mitigation applications.
  • Businesses: to develop new e-­mitigation solutions appropriate to developing countries, and to drive adoption of such solutions within their entire supply chain.

Strategy Brief