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  • SignatureSolution 4 - Environment

Introduction

Climate change and digital technologies are major trends that affect everyone, but their impacts are not evenly distributed. Vulnerable groups, such as women, youth,rural farmers, indigenous communities and people with disabilities are often hit hardest by climate change and environmental degradation while benefiting the least from digital advancements.

Digital technology holds immense potential for both mitigating and adapting to climate change.It not only enables the development of eco-friendly innovations that drive climate action but also offers powerful tools and solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve climate resilience.For example, a 2018 study by the Exponential Road map Initiative showed that digital technology could reduce global emissions by 15% through solutions in sectors like energy,manufacturing, agriculture and land use, buildings, services, transportation and traffic management.

UNDP has been supporting the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in over 120 countries through its Climate Promise initiative. UNDP provides direct support to climate change mitigation and adaptation in over 110 countries, including 22 Small Island Developing States and 44 countries in fragile or extremely fragile contexts, managing an active portfolio of over $2 billion whilst mobilising over $7 billion in co-financing.Nature-based solutions and chemical and waste management interventions also contribute to integrated climate action .

UNDP has identified numerous applications for digital technologies within its climate change portfolio. For example:

  • Innovative digital tools and solutions provide access to timely data, enabling climate risk-informed policies and investments.Data sources can include very high resolution(VHR) satellite imagery or remote sensing combined with machine learning (ML)and artificial intelligence (AI).
  • Distributed ledger technologies(DLT – in other words decentralised security systems such as blockchains) and AI may support robust monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) data,enhancing transparency and trust. This can stimulate market incentives, access to innovative environmental finance and equitable benefit sharing.
  • The Internet of Things(IoT) and automation enable SMART solutions for cities, transportation and agriculture.
  • Mobile applications empower local actions, facilitating environment monitoring or citizen science.

Digitalization will accelerate better planning, monitoring and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions(NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAP) across the key sectors such as agriculture, fishery and forestry, land management, transport and energy. This must be coupled with promotion of a just, green economy whilst mitigating potential negative impacts such as increased GHG emission from the ICT sector,misinformation or digital divide-driven inequality.

Key talking points

  • National digital transparency systems can help countries manage complex GHG inventory data, NDC action tracking and reporting requirements across sectors, contributing to national data sovereignty.
  • A digital carbon registry can enable end-to-end carbon market systems with traceable data. Various digital tools, sensors and earth observation can support monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon mitigation projects.
  • Digitalization can accelerate access to climate finance by local communities and farmers through innovative financing mechanisms such as the Payment for Ecosystem Services or potentially the Loss and Damage Fund by combining Digital ID, digital payments and various monitoring technologies (such as remote sensing, IoT sensors and mobile apps).
  • Climate information systems and early warning systems have helped many countries bring advanced data and analytics to strengthen adaptation and disaster risk reduction, both at the national and local levels. With recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence and big data, more granular risk assessments and scenario predictions are possible.
  • Digitalization of NDC sectors through smart energy, smart agriculture, smart cooling or e-transport bring energy and resource efficiency, while new digital business models for local communities, farmers and fishermen to utilize climate information, directly access sustainable markets and build credit on their digital identity for improved livelihood.
  • Global GHG emissions from the ICT sector are rising.
  • Inherent biases in digital systems, misinformation and inequitable digital divides can hinder climate action progress.
  • Providing technical assistance to the national government inestablishingdigital national transparency systems (e.g., NDC reporting, carbon registry) as parts of the core digital public infrastructure to help build the credibility of the Paris agreement and enable access to climate finance.
  • Technical capacity building for data analytics to enhance planning, policy decision-making and monitoring.
  • Recognizing the crucial role local actors such as communities, SMEs and farmer associations play in climate action and promoting capacity building and inclusive digital tools for local innovation and livelihoods.
  • UNDP sees increasing opportunities for global or regional private sector partnerships involving open-source technology, open data and capacity building. Building coalitions with influential companies that extend beyond corporate social responsibilities is also important.

Opportunities and risks

This section presents society-level opportunities and risks related to digital technology in the context of climate change. These insights can help form programme-level theories of change and inspire programme teams on how digital technology can support or undermine climate change-related programme activities. 

  • Digital solutions can increase credibility and trust in global initiatives: This enhances transparency and global monitoring of GHG emission and progress toward the Paris Agreement, and improves access to carbon finance.
  • Digital technologies enable benefit sharing: Access to innovative environmental finance opportunities brings more potential for benefit sharing, thanks to distributed systems such as ledgers and peer-to-peer platforms.
  • Data and automation can promote sustainable behaviours: This can include a transition to SMART agriculture, SMART energy anda “circular economy”
  • Climate information systems and early warning systems can strengthen resilience and disaster risk reduction: For example, digital technology can help enhance water resource resiliency and conduct risk-informed infrastructure development in climate-vulnerable regions.
  • Digital transformation of key sectors can accelerate transition to a green economy, build resilience and create green jobs and livelihoods: Key sectors include clean energy, circular economy (waste management), agro-food systems, water and forestry.
  • Digital solutions can empower local communities, indigenous people, and rural farmers to create nature-based solutions.
  • Increased energy use and GHG emission from the ICT sector can exacerbate climate change: The ICT sector includes data centres, telecommunications infrastructure and the production and use of electronic devices such as computers, smart phones and other devices. As the demand for digital services and technologies increases, so does the energy consumption associated with data processing, storage and transmission.
  • Unmanaged e-waste can lead to increased pollution: This is especially a risk in countries lacking established recycling or waste management systems. Please refer to UNDP’s Chemicals and Waste Service Offer on potential mitigation interventions.
  • The growing demand for digital technologies can lead to unethical sourcing of raw materials: Increasing demand and price pressure for rare earth elements and other precious metals like cobalt and lithium can lead to extracting them in unethical ways. Those materials are sourced largely in the developing regions and pose risks to vulnerable groups. Please refer to UNDP’s Mineral and Mining Strategy on potential interventions.
  • Inherent biases in AI algorithms can lead to inequality or unsustainable consumption, increasing natural resources usage.
  • Misinformation and digital divides can impede progress on climate action and can unintentional exclude vulnerable groups: This can include rural farmers without smart phones, indigenous communities without internet access or women in societies with a gender-based digital divide.

Programming suggestions

The UNDP Climate change portfolio has a strong structure across the world through the Climate Promise, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Green Climate Fund (GCF) funded project portfolio and other bilateral contributions. Given the existing strong network of country, region and global technical expertise, programming in the climate change practice area is strongly recommended to leverage extant global offers. These were designed on the basis of common needs in the portfolio and built for scale across countries in close collaboration with, and with technical assistance from, the BPPS Climate Hub and Vertical Fund Unit. This does not exclude local or bottom-up solutions, which also can become the seed for future scalable interventions. To find out more about each of interventions below, please contact your Regional Technical Advisor or Coordinator.

Enhanced National Transparency Systems, Carbon Registries and MRV tools

As countries work to improve NDC monitoring and reporting to meet the Enhanced Transparency Framework requirements, many are developing digital NDC transparency systems at national and sectoral levels. In addition, to enable carbon markets under the Paris Agreement Article 6, digital carbon registries will be needed to manage carbon credits at the national level whilst maintaining interoperability with international systems. Various MRV tools can support transparency and access to environmental finance mechanisms, such as the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme. Under this programming area, UNDP will:

  • Support national digital NDC tracking system and carbon registry development. As the system functionalities are relatively similar across countries, Country Offices are encouraged to utilize UNDP’s open-source, ‘ready-to-install’ system that was built based on inputs from international experts. The use of such Digital Public Goods is a cost-effective way to develop such national system (Link to UNDP’s Community of Practice).
  • Support sectoral digital MRV systems. The UNDP Climate Hub has extensive experience supporting these kinds of projects especially when it comes to forest MRV systems.
  • Support the use of UNDP’s international voluntary cooperation platform for Article 6.2, the “ITMO process flow”(Link to website)
  • Facilitate the use of digital MRV tools to track and verify various mitigation projects and to monitor GHG emission. Various tools exist, and stakeholders should be supported in procuring them, making use of the Digital X catalogue or partnerships where required. Technical advice from carbon experts is recommended to establish whether a given tool is based on internationally acknowledged methodologies.
  • Support the development or upgrading of national PES management systems.

Data Capacity for Policy Making and Risk Informed Programming

Data-driven planning, policy making and monitoring are essential capacities that require long-term capacity building, involving national governments, local actors, academia and the private sector. UNDP will provide capacity development and catalyse digital and data partnerships to support these efforts. Under this programming area, UNDP will:

  • Deploy data experts for data-informed project design, monitoring and evaluation. Country Offices are encouraged to inquire for sample terms of reference, global partnership opportunities and potential candidates for recruitment.
  • Utilise global data sharing partnerships and advise on the use of open data, including for Very High Resolution (VHR) satellite imagery and socio-economic data.
  • Apply open data standards for UNDP-supported projects and data visualisations. Publish on the UNDP Data Futures Platform.
Below are examples for data capacity building opportunities.
  • The Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) planning and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes, and Local Adaptation Plans, can benefit from data driven geospatial analytics. This process can potentially involve automatic data scraping followed by using AI to find patterns.
  • Geospatial analysis, climate risk profiling and climate vulnerability assessment can support climate programming and project design.
  • Design nature-based solutions with impact assessments conducted in advance. For example, in Vietnam, UNDP supported mangrove forest restoration on the basis of geospatial risk assessments, stabilising coastal residents' livelihoods and buffering infrastructure from the ocean.

Climate Information System and Early Warning Systems for Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction

Climate data and information form the basis for climate-related interventions and are crucial for science-based planning and the investment processes of both climate mitigation and adaptation. Geo spatial and socio-economic data inform vulnerability and impact assessments of society and infrastructure with respect to weather extremes and climate change. This information helps identify current and future key risks and areas where the public and private sectors should work together, as well as highlighting measures that increase resilience to weather extremes and make long-term economic sense.Under this programming area, UNDP will:

  • Support data collection, climate modelling and analysis for climate information products and alerts. This includes the integration of digital tools for anticipatory action and disaster recovery (e.g., digital payments before and after expected climate-related disasters). Note that in some countries digitization of historical weather data may be the critical first step. Localized early warning systems may benefit from existing digital applications.
  • Use of digital tools to support standardisation and verification of data and information collected by climate information systems (e.g. using WMO standards to trigger payments from the Systematic Observations Financing Facility).

Digital Transformation of Key NDC Sectors

Digitally enabled climate change mitigation and adaptation across key sectors will also create green jobs and livelihoods. UNDP will support Green Transition Digital Readiness Assessments and the development of a Digital Road map to identify entry points for intervention within NDC sectors;advise on the use of existing technological solutions (prioritising south-south and “triangle” (south-south-north cooperation)and provide advisory services with respect to policy level digital transformation.

Empowering local communities, civil society and SMEs/ MSMEs, including by building national and local digital eco systems is crucial for climate resilience.A holistic approach is needed, encompassing the public sector, infrastructure,regulators, the private sector and people. Potential avenues for local capacity building and innovation are listed below, but it should be noted  that UNDP’s role is not to directly build innovative apps and solutions, but rather to create an enabling environment for local communities and SMEs to innovate themselves. UNDP can achieve this through capacity building, policy approaches, grant schemes, innovative financing mechanisms and demonstration projects. In this programming area, UNDP will:

  • Support countries to undertake Green Transition Digital Readiness Assessments and develop digital transformation roadmaps at the national or sectoral level.
  • Advise government on appropriate and available digital tools and demonstration opportunities for their national circumstances.
  • Advise government on policy approaches for enabling digitalization in their country.
  • Provide capacity building on digital tools and/or digital innovation to local communities.
Some of the opportunities that digitalization bring are further elaborated below. Climate resilient food, agriculture and fishery systems: (see more in NATURE).
  • Develop resilient value chains with traceability and certification.
  • Implement precision agriculture using IoT sensors, drones and remote sensing to improve farmers’ decision-making capacity.
  • Utilise drone technology for agricultural tasks, such as watering and seeding.
  • Leverage the potential of agricultural data in various forms to open up new data-focused economic models. This data ranges from agronomic data (such as production advice, pests and diseases), to environment and natural resource related data (such as meteorological, hydrological and soil data)to socioeconomic data(including market, prices, infrastructure) to administrative data(such as legal, financial, and official records).
  • Provide better climate information and digital extension services.
  • Foster digital financial inclusion and insurance, as well as market connections.
  • Collaborate with the private sector partners to incentivise sustainable, deforestation-free commodities with better traceability at the source level.
  • Establish data standards and Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture-related data.
  • Integrate block chain systems with the IoT to improve supply chain traceability and promote trust, transparency and cost-effectiveness.
  • Utilise digital solutions to connect with remote farmers and improve access to services.
  • Encourage a sharing economy through digital platforms, such as digital markets.
Forest and land management:
  • Utilise geospatial monitoring and AI to detect deforestation and forest degradation.
  • Use reference data and algorithms to facilitate biomass and carbon stock estimates.
  • Use drones in community-based forest management efforts.
  • Implement mobile devices for community forest monitoring.
  • Model carbon to track changes in carbon pools over time.
Clean energy, transport and cities: (See more in Digital Guide ENERGY)
  • Introduce digitally-enabled new business models(such as sensors, mobile payments and decentralised finance) to promote mini-grid and solar home systems and clean cooking.
  • Digitize and digitalize government systems and capacity, including e-tendering and geospatial planning and design for integrated energy plans and strategies.
  • Use automation and data-driven planning in the transport sector.
  • Implement smart city and smart buildings initiatives for improved energy efficiency.
  • Implement digital MRV systems.

Stakeholders

  • Relevant government agencies
    This ensures alignment with national climate goals and compliance with regulations. It includes coordination with various governmental bodies: The Ministries of Environment, Climate Change Forestry,Fishery, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, and related governmental agencies. Collaboration with these stakeholders ensures not only that the project complies with relevant laws and receives necessary approvals,but also facilitates the integration of a digital perspective into forth coming strategies, policies and regulations pertaining to climate. This integration,in turn, expedites the implementation of digital solutions.
  • Ministries and government agencies responsible for IT or digital transformation
    Including government institutions responsible for the national digital transformation,connectivity and/or Information Technology experts is important for the successful design and implementation of projects, especially if it involves large scale digital system development. Digital and IT experts can often offer guidance on the integration of the digital solutions with existing national data platforms, advise on digital related issues such as data privacy, cyber security or data ownership and ensure the project's technical viability.
  • Beneficiaries and individuals
    ‍    It is critical to engage (or co-create with) beneficiaries and end users of any digital solution that UNDP supports. Designing good digital solutions starts with understanding the user, their needs, daily routine,preferences and decisions. Beneficiaries can be a source of ideas.Connectivity,device availability, digital literacy and social norms should be considered at the design stage. Beneficiaries may include farmers, cooperatives and associations,local CSOs, International NGOs, indigenous people and local communities, women,youth, entrepreneurs, universities, and engineers.
  • Private sector, investors, funders
    ‍    Researching and identifying potential private sector partners and investors who have a track record in funding digital projects can help secure funding, data or in-kind support. Their input can also help shape the project proposal.  As investors often have a vested interest in the success of the project, they may actively support marketing and promotional efforts. In addition, they spot hidden risks and opportunities to scale up the project.
  • Global partnerships and international organisations
    ‍    Partnering with international organizations reinforces conformity with global climate initiatives, and generates opportunities for securing funding and the exchange of best practices. These organizations can play a role in shaping both global and regional policies, supporting advocacy endeavours for favourable policies concerning digital technologies in the realm of climate action. This may include various space agencies, IFIs, global tech companies or international NGOs and associations, such as GEO and GSMA.

Programming examples

Sauver des vies et protéger les moyens de subsistance liés à l'agriculture au Malawi : utilisation accrue d'un système d'information climatique et d'alerte précoce modernisé (Malawi)

Dans Malawi, la numérisation d'ensembles de données vieux de plusieurs décennies, la transmission en direct de données exploitables provenant de stations météorologiques via le cloud et les partenariats public-privé permettent une analyse accrue des données climatiques. Cela permet aux agriculteurs ruraux pauvres d'améliorer leurs profits et d'adapter leurs pratiques aux nouveaux scénarios climatiques, tandis que le gouvernement peut pérenniser les grands investissements dans les infrastructures.

EN SAVOIR PLUS
L'environnement
Climate
Défi de développement urbain intelligent face au climat (Serbie)

En Serbie, les petites et moyennes exploitations familiales sont soutenues pour installer des systèmes d'irrigation automatisés alimentés à l'énergie solaire afin de renforcer leur résilience. Grâce à l'intégration de la technologie numérique et à la prise de décision basée sur les données, ces exploitations ont augmenté leur rendement jusqu'à 30 % malgré la sécheresse et d'autres conditions climatiques difficiles. Cette approche innovante améliore non seulement la productivité agricole, mais crée également un précédent en matière de pratiques agricoles durables.

EN SAVOIR PLUS
L'environnement
Climate
Accélérer la transition vers une économie à faibles émissions de carbone (Maurice)

À Maurice, le PNUD aide le gouvernement à passer à un réseau intelligent, en tirant parti des technologies numériques pour améliorer l'efficacité énergétique et rendre les réseaux électriques existants plus efficaces. Ce réseau intelligent permet non seulement de résoudre automatiquement les pannes de courant, mais il contribue également à la transition nationale de Maurice vers une économie à faibles émissions de carbone, en soutenant l'intégration des énergies renouvelables.

EN SAVOIR PLUS
L'environnement
Climate
Des biens publics numériques pour l'Accord de Paris : Registre national du carbone (mondial)

Le PNUD a développé un logiciel open source, le registre national du carbone en tant que bien public numérique. Les pays peuvent utiliser le code et développer un registre national qui fournit une plate-forme transparente et efficace aux parties prenantes pour surveiller la manière dont les crédits de carbone sont émis et échangés. La Namibie a été la première à développer un registre national du carbone basé sur le DPG, et d'autres pays sont en train de le faire.

EN SAVOIR PLUS
L'environnement
Climate
Améliorer la capacité d'adaptation et la gestion des risques des communautés rurales (Mongolie)

En Mongolie, les technologies numériques et géospatiales sont utilisées pour renforcer la résilience des communautés d'éleveurs tributaires des ressources et vulnérables au changement climatique. Un élément clé du projet est la surveillance des changements dans les pâturages et l'utilisation des terres à l'aide d'images satellites et de données géospatiales, afin de suivre les terres dégradées dues au surpâturage, permettant ainsi des pratiques de gestion des terres plus efficaces.

EN SAVOIR PLUS
L'environnement
Climate
PLANT — Accord de Paris : évaluation de l'UTCATF et outil NDC (mondial)

PLANT, l'outil d'évaluation de l'UTCATF et de la CDN de l'Accord de Paris, constitue un outil « vivant » et un système consultatif de base de données constamment mis à jour qui aide les pays à mettre en œuvre des politiques de durabilité dans le secteur forestier afin de faire progresser l'Accord de Paris. L'une des principales caractéristiques de PLANT est sa capacité à évaluer les secteurs de l'utilisation des terres, du changement d'affectation des terres et de la foresterie (LULUCF), qui sont essentiels pour que les pays optimisent leurs pratiques d'utilisation des terres afin de réduire les émissions.

EN SAVOIR PLUS
L'environnement
Climate
DiCRA - Le numérique pour une agriculture résiliente aux changements climatiques (Inde)

L'India Accelerator Lab a développé une plateforme géospatiale à données ouvertes et à algorithmes ouverts pour analyser les politiques de résilience climatique. Accrédité en tant que bien public numérique, DiCRA fournit une analyse complète des politiques agricoles résilientes au climat à l'aide d'algorithmes d'intelligence artificielle et d'apprentissage automatique. En intégrant des données de terrain provenant de scientifiques citoyens, la DiCRA garantit l'exactitude et la pertinence de ses recommandations politiques. L'outil permet de développer et de mettre en œuvre des politiques agricoles résilientes aux changements climatiques de manière informée et améliorée, ce qui aboutit à un secteur agricole plus durable et résilient.

EN SAVOIR PLUS
L'environnement
Climate

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