Acknowledgements The text of this paper was prepared by Angelica Valeria Ospina (University of Manchester) <strong>and</strong> Cristina Bueti (<strong>ITU</strong>) with support from Vivienne Caisey <strong>and</strong> Stephen Young (ICT <strong>and</strong> Climate Change). 2
Executive summary The objective of the report is to illustrate the integration of <strong>Information</strong> <strong>and</strong> Communication Technologies (<strong>ICTs</strong>) into national climate change adaptation policies <strong>and</strong> strategies, based on the case of Ghana. In view of the challenges posed by climate change <strong>and</strong> uncertainty, the effective use of <strong>ICTs</strong> in climate change adaptation can play a crucial role towards sustainable development goals <strong>and</strong> improved environmental management, particularly in developing countries. As many other developing countries, Ghana is facing significant challenges linked to the increasing intensity <strong>and</strong> frequency of climate change related events. In face of these challenges, <strong>and</strong> with a rapidly exp<strong>and</strong>ing ICT industry <strong>and</strong> a vibrant tele<strong>communication</strong>s sector, the country has been a pioneer in the exploration of <strong>ICTs</strong> as key tools towards the achievement of adaptation goals <strong>and</strong> international climate change commitments. As the country advances in the development of a National Climate Change Policy Framework through the Ministry of Environment, Science <strong>and</strong> Technology in coordination with the Ministry of Communications, there is an increasing need to design <strong>and</strong> implement innovative, e-enabled approaches to address the opportunities <strong>and</strong> challenges posed by climatic impacts. Thus, the combination of policy leadership <strong>and</strong> awareness about the role <strong>and</strong> potential of <strong>ICTs</strong> in the climate change adaptation field, as well as high-level collaboration between key ICT, environmental <strong>and</strong> climate change stakeholders at the international, national <strong>and</strong> sub-national levels, have contributed to make Ghana a leading country in the emerging ICT <strong>and</strong> climate change policy field. Important lessons can be drawn from analysing the context within which <strong>ICTs</strong> <strong>and</strong> climate change converge, including guidelines that can help to strengthen similar policy processes in other developing countries. This report is structured around four key sections. The first section provides a general background of climate change as a major global challenge, highlighting the importance of adaptive responses <strong>and</strong> the key international processes that characterize this field. The second introduces Ghana as the country of focus for this study, identifying its main areas of vulnerability to climate change impacts, as well as the overall adaptation strategy <strong>and</strong> actions that have been adopted, thus far, at the national level. Based on this background, the third section of the report explores the integration of <strong>ICTs</strong> <strong>and</strong> climate change policies in the context of developing countries, illustrating, through the case of Ghana, potential approaches that could be considered in terms of ICT <strong>and</strong> climate change content, structures <strong>and</strong> processes. Based on the key lessons drawn from the context of Ghana, the fourth section of the report suggests a series of next steps for policy <strong>and</strong> decision makers, aimed at facilitating the integration of <strong>ICTs</strong> into climate change policies <strong>and</strong> strategies at the international, national <strong>and</strong> sectoral levels. This section also identifies suggestions for the ICT sector of developing countries to adapt to the changing climate. The report concludes by identifying key areas for action towards the integration of <strong>ICTs</strong> <strong>and</strong> climate change adaptation in developing countries. These include (a) fostering coherent, long-term strategies based on content, structures <strong>and</strong> process, (b) promoting awareness on <strong>ICTs</strong>’ current <strong>and</strong> emergent areas of potential, (c) supporting inclusive <strong>and</strong> participatory processes <strong>and</strong> structures, led by trusted institutions, as well as (d) addressing prevailing challenges of connectivity, access <strong>and</strong> use. It is expected that the results of this report will help to illustrate the key factors that need to be considered in the design <strong>and</strong> operationalization of ICT’s role in climate change policies <strong>and</strong> strategies. It is also hoped that the experience <strong>and</strong> leadership of Ghana in this field serves to inspire an increasing number of countries towards the adoption of ICT-enabled adaptation strategies to better withst<strong>and</strong>, recover <strong>and</strong> adapt to the impacts of climate change. 3
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