ICT and its role on Global Warming

November 21, 2019

ICT or Information Communication and Technology refers to a wide range of technologies like Personal Computers (PCs), broadband telecom networks and devices, switches, routers, mobile, TVs, laptops and iPads or combination of devices and services that capture, transmit and display data and information electronically.
ICT has become the soul of modern world and it has been inextricably associated with day to day life of people around the world.
Global warming and climate change are hotly debated issues globally of late. Global Warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) and greenhouse gases collect in the atmosphere. As a result, the earth is becoming hotter by the day. A lot of negative impacts have been observed in the ecosystem, environment and ecology due to the effects of global warming. The apparent effects of global warming are severe drought, wildfires, lost crops, shortages of drinking water, extinction of wildlife and species, loss of their habitats, vanishing ice, melting glaciers, rising oceans and sea level and many more.
In the modern world, there is hardly any sector which is detached from information, communication and technology. Hence, ICT is closely associated with global warming for good as well as bad reasons. ICTs are part both of the cause of, and solution to, global warming.
Energy is considered the catalyst of economic growth and development. However, the source of energy in the world is largely a mix of fossil fuels and nuclear power as the availability of renewable energy is virtually negligible. Electricity that is generated from the burning of fossil fuels produces billions of tons of CO2 every year. With the growth of ICT industries and rise in processing and transmission powers (for 3G, 4G and 5G mobile phones), the ICT sector (i.e. telecommunications, computing and the Internet) are contributing to the emissions of greenhouse gases as the sources of energy are fossil fuel and nuclear power. In addition, energy consumption by ICT devices in homes is also exacerbating global warming due to the increasing trend of owning multiple gadgets such as laptops, set-top boxes, smart phones, hand-held devices, and tablets. Hundreds of millions of computers and billions of television sets are being played continuously in homes and offices, which consume electricity produced from fossil fuel and nuclear reactors. Therefore, switching into renewable energy is the only and urgent alternative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Although ICT is one of the major contributors to global warming, it also has a critical role to play in combating it.
ICT’s role on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Climate change adaptation and mitigation are two other crucial terms. Climate change mitigation refers to minimizing the level of greenhouse gas emissions. But climate change adaptation is concerned with making vital and necessary adjustments to protect us from the adverse impacts of climate change. It is an act of dodging the effects of climate change.
Due to rapid industrialization, rise in pollution, rampant deforestation and expansion of the means of transport, the world is experiencing severe impacts of climate change. Although reducing the emissions of green house gases is an extremely challenging climate change mitigation task, ICT can be useful in achieving this goal. ICT smart grids in energy generation and power consumption as well as control transmission and distribution of energy, smart logistics through efficiencies in transport and storage, smart buildings through better building design, management and automation, especially designed smart motors to run at different speeds depending on the task, smart healthcare or telemedicine service through the application of remote diagnosis and treatment service can help significantly minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon emissions can also be minimized by substituting higher carbon products and activities with ICT-enabled lower carbon alternatives like online media, e-ticketing, e-commerce, e-paper, video-conferencing and tele-working.
General people have been following the strategies of climate change adaptation in daily lives for long. With technological innovation and growth, ICTs are being utilized for developing, planning, implementing and managing climate change adaptation strategies more efficiently.
ICTs’ role on climate change monitoring (Mapping, detecting, assessment, early warning, predicting)
In addition to climate change mitigation and adaption, ICTs have also critical role to play in terms of environmental observation and climate monitoring. Climate change monitoring is a process of constant observation and data recording. Observation and surveillance of the atmosphere, oceans, rivers, glaciers and other components of the ecosystem are part of the process. Data on temperature changes; humidity; water level in seas and oceans and river measurement; wind speed; and average rainfall are observed and recorded under climate change monitoring. A wide range of ICT technologies such as geographical information system, global positioning system, wireless sensor networks, mobile technology, web-based applications, satellite technology and remote sensing are used for climate change monitoring.
• ICTs are used around the world in environment and climate monitoring, data dissemination and early warning. It is greatly helping safeguard the lives of thousands of people and their properties against frequent disasters like landslides, flooding and rising sea levels caused by global warming. Various countries are also using weather satellites and radars to track the progress of typhoons, tornadoes, thunderstorms, volcanoes and forest fires. Radio-based meteorological aid systems are also being used to collect and process weather data.
• ICTs are also used to monitor deforestation and forest degradation around the planet so that counter emergency measures could be initiated on time. ICTs are also being utilized for enhancing data collection on the condition of forests for the purpose of their sustainability and protection. For this, satellites are being used through clouds and at night to record, access and disseminate images. In order to monitor conditions of vast tropical forests and deforestation, remote sensing applications have been used.
• Due to frequent storms, heat waves, droughts and floods, the agricultural sector is bearing severe impacts of global warming. The quality and availability of water and food is bearing the brunt of global warming. However, ICTs can adequately address the problem as it can systematically monitor the mapping of agricultural production, food shortages and food supplies.
• ICTs are also being used for educating and raising awareness of people on global warming and increased environmental risks. Through the Internet, TV, radio and social media platforms, educational content is being delivered to the people and various stakeholders. ICT can help vulnerable communities reduce the risk related to climate change through education and increased awareness at the community level, and by empowering people to access knowledge and locally relevant information to save lives.
The world has hugely benefitted by ICTs-based climate change monitoring, mitigation and adaptation. Following the advancement of smart and wireless technology, ICT is helping minimize greenhouse gas emissions drastically. The ICT sector, which is responsible for 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions now, is expected to lessen the burden by 20% by 2030 with the use of new technologies to save energy. Satellites and radars have tremendously helped us in disaster prediction, detection and early warning and consequently saving millions of lives. In the case of Nepal, early warning system has been installed to help save people’s lives from river floods and glacier lake outbursts. Remote sensing and GPS have also contributed to assessment of multiple hazards and development of various scenarios and contingency plans. ICTs are also utilized for risk maps, hazard maps, and scenario maps for risk analysis. Agricultural and soil monitoring is also contributed by ICTs. Satellite imaging and global positioning systems are being used to control the application of water and fertilizer. Satellites are also used to monitor deforestation and forest fires by recording and disseminating images. Due to this technological innovation, people have been aided to tackle the effects of climate change and their impacts on day lives.