News: Environment & ICTs
ICTs, climate change and development workshop
In partnership with the University of Manchester, APC co-hosted a workshop from January 22 – 24 in Johannesburg to discuss findings, challenges and key actions going forward on how ICTs can help mitigate climate change and help communities better adapt to the increasing changes in their local environments.
APC launches new GreeningIT site
While ICTs can help the environment, they can also be harmful. APC’s GreeningIT project takes a look at the green and not so green side of ICTs to find out how they can be used more sustainably by civil society, governments, service providers and users in general.
E-waste in Egypt: How do you solve a problem you can't quantify?
ICT related e-waste in Egypt is a growing problem, but addressing it is difficult since there is no official research or data on the subject, says a new report written by ArabDev for the APC. APCNews talks to author Leila Hassanin about putting e-waste on the policy map.
Bangladesh: Focus on climate change means that e-waste has been ignored
Bangladesh has committed to becoming “Digital Bangladesh” by 2021. But fifteen years after liberalising the telecommunications industry, the country faces a significant e-waste problem. And because e-waste belongs to no specific sector but rather, crosses over into several, it is a challenge to create any policies for its management and disposal, says a new report commissioned by APC and written by Partha Sarker and Munir Hassan.
Mexico: ICT and environmental policies must be linked
There is a lack of awareness in Mexico of the environmental harm caused by the present models of production, consumption and disposal of electronic waste. However, there is also a lack of awareness of the positive role that ICT can play in mitigating climate change.
ICT and environment in Costa Rica: Closing the gap between words and deeds
Laws on climate change and waste management in Costa Rica have existed since 2009. However, despite appearing on paper, there has been little progress in putting them into practice. If the situation does not change, the country will not become carbon neutral by 2021.
90% of India's e-waste is recycled informally – when will gov't policy recognise this?
According to the GISWatch 2010 report, electronics is the fastest growing sector in India and are purchased by about 52 million people. From 1993 to 2000 the number of PCs owned by Indians grew 604% and one can only imagine how many computers have been bought since then.
Computer Aid launches new guide for advocacy on e-waste issues
Computer Aid recently launched a guide for NGOs and civil society working on issues of e-waste in their country. The free resource provides practical information and tools on how to conduct campaigns to reduce the impacts of electronics on the environment and people.
Where does your laptop come from?
It’s normal to buy a new laptop when we can afford it. But do you know about the waste or the environmental damage that result from its production? See this new APC video to learn more.
APC and IDRC host climate change, ICT and water workshop
APC and Canadian development agency IDRC are hosting this four-day workshop with expert participants from around the world in Johannesburg on July 7-10. This is a new strategic area for the IDRC to support applied policy-relevant research to help people adapt to the water-related impacts of climate change.
Internet, technology and climate change: APC invites you to a virtual exhibition
A new report looks at ICTs and environmental sustainability in 2010 in 53 countries, six regions and through ten expert thematic reports. We invite you to a virtual exhibition of the report. Come prepared for presentations, a chance to talk to Global Information Society Watch 2010 people behind the initiative and mingle at the virtual bar.
Special report calls for IT manufacturers to stop designing for the digital dump
In a Special Report published on 09 December, UK charity Computer Aid International calls for IT manufactures to take responsibility for the environmental cost of their products throughout their entire life-cycle. The Special Report, which is the third in a series of special reports on ICTs and the Environment, is titled “GreenICT: What producers must do”.
New report asks, how environmentally-friendly is technology?
Computers are creating massive e-waste. The paper industry has had to double to meet printer demand. But smart technologies are bringing huge savings in energy consumption. As the UN conference on climate change starts in Cancun, the new Global Information Society Watch from APC and Hivos looks at ICTs and environmental sustainability in 53 countries, six regions and through ten expert thematic reports. What is the state of the industry in your country? Find out.
Greening the internet and your life: Over 50 resources
An online calculator of global CO2 savings from the use of IT services instead of flying and commuting; energy saving tips for your computer; websites on environmental activism, indicators and research. This is what you’ll find in APC’s new GreeningIT directory which has more than 100 links to existing sustainable information and communication technology (ICT) tools, practices and initiatives where ICTs, climate change and environmental sustainability meet.
APC launches GreeningIT online directory
The GreeningIT directory was officially launched today, marking the first open online database of resources that focuses on the intersection of ICTs and environmental sustainability. The directory aims to gather and present a comprehensive annotated list of initiatives, tools and online communities, featuring both innovative and traditional applications of ICTs to address climate change, environmental issues and the environmental impact of ICTs.
Progressive techies declare their rights - and responsibilities
At the United States Social Forum on June 24 fifty politically progressive technologists came together for the first US Progressive Techie Congress. The Congress emerged with a statement applauded by other socially-responsible networks like the APC as “a great set of principles”.
Producing social justice video in Asia? Take the EngageMedia strategic planning survey
EngageMedia has been working hard over the past five years to establish itself as “a leading distribution platform of social justice videos from the Asia-Pacific Region.” Come share with EngageMedia before 6 August what you think of their services and give suggestions on what you think they do best, what they should do more of, and help them create their strategic plan for the next few years.
Fighting illegal logging in Bulgaria's forests
A campaign to expose illegal logging is a new wall against the extinction of forests in Bulgaria. The campaign combines digital tools and green activism in an online system for filing whistle-blower alerts.
JAKARTA: Time for Reel Action Climate Crisis Video Launch
Coinciding with World Environment Day EngageMedia is launching a curated compilation of videos that deal with climate change issues from an Asia-Pacific perspective. Time for Reel Action (T4RA) is a video compilation of climate change stories that explores the impacts, the action and climate solutions emerging from the region.
New report on climate change and ICTs: What information and knowledge can do
Studies reveal that the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) makes up 2% of all global emissions – the same amount as the airline industry. By 2012, 4.5 billion people will have access to a mobile phone – the majority will be those live on less than USD 2 a day and be the most likely to be affected by climate change. “Planting the Knowledge Seed – Adapting to climate change using ICTs”, a publication from the Building Communication Opportunities alliance, explores the practical linkages between climate change, access to and sharing of information and knowledge and communication for development.
