APC member and partner
ICT and environmental sustainability initiatives, 2008-2010
Below is an overview of activities that APC members and partners are
involved in that relate to ICTs and environmental sustainability,
including climate change, in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South
America. This is by no means a comprehensive list. It is compiled from
information that members and partners shared with APC.
Africa
The Arid Lands
Information Network, Kenya
The Arid Lands Network (Kenya) has two programmes which have been
leveraging the use of ICTs to help communities adapt to climate change.
First, they produced a platform providing support materials and
information on climate change adaptations for local Kenyan communities.
Complementing is a farmer-led grassroots programme on best practices
and local management of adaptation knowledge. (
, Overview of ARLIN's project promoting environmental sustainability is
available at
E-Knowledge for Women
in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe
EKOWISA (a member of APC Africa Women) has started to engage and raise
awareness of e-waste issues in current legislative process notably the
ICT Bill discussions among parliamentarians, councillors and civil
society organisations. This is a relatively new area for Zimbabwe and
the development of ICT4D could greatly benefit regional discussions
that you are planning to have.
In discussions with Environmental Management Agency during the GISWatch
research Ekowisa did on e-waste management, the manager showed
willingness to engage with civil society organisations to do activities
that will highlight e-waste issues at local level that could lead to
policy changes. EKOWISA could bring gender equity and equality
perspectives to enrich the process.
Protege QV, Cameroon
In 2008, PROTEGE QV (Cameroon)with the support of Artists Project Earth
(http://www.apeuk.org)
implemented a project not specifically related on water but on global
climate change. The goal of the initiative was to sensitize rural and
urban communities in
Cameroon on climate change. The specific objective was to elaborate a
resource kit (RK) that can be used by community radios in Cameroon for
broadcasting on climate change and actions to be taken at individual
and community levels to prevent it.
Fantsuam Foundation,
Nigeria
As a rural organization, Fantsuam Foundation (Nigeria) has raised local
awareness on the impact of changing climatic patterns on agriculture,
which is the primary occupation of its host communities. Late rains
followed by excessive rainfalls has caused disruptions and affected
household food security significantly. Fantsuam has also come to
appreciate the role children can play in promoting environmentally
friendly life styles at the grassroots level, and we have just
established a Children's Parliament who have identified Environment as
one of their key activities this year. Fantsuam will be working closely
with this parliament. Fantsuam is also involved in several
environmental initiatives: ranging from permaculture to renewable
energy to waste management. (More information on Fantsuam's project
that uses recycled computer solutions and sustainable energy sources -
(doesn't contain many details on the above issues, though).)
Fantsuam Foundation is currently developing an Eco-Village as a model
for hands-on training in permacultural practices in which ICTs are used
to enhance water storage and recycling
Waste disposal is also closely linked to Water conservation in the
rural communities of Nigeria. Streams are often used as places to dump
domestic garbage, so regeneration of these water sources often requires
community engagement and provision of more efficient and accessible
waste disposal systems.
The recent flooding in several farming communities in Nigeria, due to
heavy rains and weakened structures of the traditional mud houses
provides an opportunity to link deforestation, garbage disposal and
climate change using powerful images.
ArabDev, Egypt
ArabDev (Egypt) has developed the Arabic version of the environmental
information kit for UNDP Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Small
Grants Programme (SGP) in Egypt. The initiative focused on presenting
complex technical environmental information for climate change,
international waters, land degradation, and biodiversity in a
simplified version accessible to the general public. This was the first
information kit of its kind in the Arab region.
ArabDev was also a partner with the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology’s (MIT) Global System of Sustainable Development (GSSD).
ArabDev has conducted various research projects in Egypt and North
Africa concerning environment, information technology and gender. It
has high interest and commitment to a longer term programmatic
approach, especially as the issue of climate change is of utmost
importance for Egypt!
Arabdev and APC are currently exploring the possibility of a joint
partnership re. a MENA governance programme initiative, that could be
scaled to other areas later on. The objectives, in a nutshell, are to
promote communication and media sharing in the region among media
professionals, civil society and youth based on proper media legal
issues. The programme will offer legal and media training to promote
open, quality discourses based on cross cutting sectors like water,
climate change, gender, and other issues of interest. It will
offer media professionals, civil groups and private citizens the tools
to responsibly advocate, initiate and participate in vital issues.
Asia
Digital Empowerment
Foundation, India
DEF has developed Drinking Water Information Management System called
NeerJaal: www.neerjaal.org. DEF is working with Barefoot College in
Rajasthan. They have got grant from Department of Science and
Technology, Gov of India Fund over, the DST is considering extending
the project and giving next phase of funding
They are now also approaching Ministry of Rural Development for support.
The way the project works is that: they target the village level women
and men in the following:
- identify sources of drinking
- collect water samples
- train them them how to do test the water using indigenously
developed water testing tools to have qualitative and quantitative
data - train them in using the neerjaal system that has been developed
and upload the community driven and community developed data
Voice, Bangladesh
Voice produced a video documentary on climate change and its impact
jointly with a Belgium group. It has previously created films on food
supply, agriculture and the empowerment of rural women. (
One of the ideas to share, to build up and strengthen communities and
movements, CSOs engaged in water/climate change movements through ICTs
including using new forms of media. For example, using facebook
communities, students engaged in using ICTs,.
Research part cane be: scoping ICTs and engagement of youth in
water/climate change issues.
BFES, Bangladesh
Bangladesh Friendship Education Society works as part of an action
research initiative on Disaster and Climate Change issues in addressing
Communication for Change.
Bytesforall,
Bangladesh
Bytesforall Bangladesh has done an extensive research on all existing
policies related to climate change, water and environment impact and
identified issues that are related to use of ICTs. One research gap
that Bytesforall Bangladesh has identified is around eWaste issues as
there is no relevant policy on this particular topic. Therefore it is
working to conduct another in-depth research on eWaste policy and
context in Bangladesh. It is also planning to organize an online and
face to face consultation around ICTs, climate change and environment
issues. Currently, Bytesforall Bangladesh is hosting an online
consultation with 'Access to Information' (A2I) program (supported by
UNDP Bangladesh and hosted at Prime Minister's Office) who prepared a
strategy document that includes many topic of development including
ICTs role to climate change and environment. Its co-founder, Partha
Sarker worked with Sustainable Development Networking Program (SDNP
Bangladesh) to assess the resource needs of different
organizations that work on environment issues and provided
recommendations in creating an information network.
Bytesforall, Pakistan
Bytesforall Pakistan's coordinator Shahzad Ahmad worked with Stockholm
Environment Institute, York University, UK and OXFAM GB to develop a
media guide on communicating climate change. The guide was used for a
national level media workshop in Pakistan held on 12-14 May 2009. We
are getting Liz Barclay from BBC 4 and Dr. Gary Haq from York as
resource persons. After the workshop, the guide was made available to
all media outfits and advocacy organizations. This was a joint effort
of SEI, OXFAM and IUCN.
EngageMedia/APC.AU,
Australia
EngageMedia has recently released a compile of short videos responding
to climate issues from Asia Pacific. The entire project used open
licensed content including captioning / subtitling now available as a
bittorent compile. More recently, we developed a distribution workshop
to assist climate campaigners improve their use of video online when
working on climate issues.
Although not directly related to water, that rising water levels IS an
issue raised by groups and documented in the compile, that we use
various "new media" / ICTs to stimulate public discussion and provide
means for deeper public engagement in these issues, is a valid
component within an overall strategy.
FYI, a short video of EngageMedia's T4RA Climate Workshop in SEL 49,
Jakarta. Participants included representatives from Javin, Greenpeace,
Jatam, Air Putih, ProFauna and Forum Lenteng.
APC.au directors have been involved in climate research since the late
1980's, having established the first database on climate change
research in Australia (Greenhouse Action Australia). We have also
assisted in the establishment of a national network of local government
environment officers (CouncilNet) and a regional-wide network of
environment groups and associations in Asia dealing with climate change
and forestry issues (Pactok). All three projects, and many more
besides, laid the foundation for networks and activities that are still
active today.
Presently, apc.au is producing of a series of micro documentaries
depicting the impacts on the forest communities of Sarawak, Malaysia,
due to climate change and the government's proposed hydro-electric dam
construction (
)
Research projects apc.au has recently performed include
- Mapping of arts activity across the state of Victoria and a proposal
for a multimedia documentation of models of arts practice that has an
online capacity to connect to Disability Online (
- Advice on tools, design and implementation of arts and disabilities
events and services database throughout Victoria (
- Melbourne Outside the Square Web 2.0 / social networking advisory (
)
- Background research and onsite investigations for the African
component of the Home Lands project (
)
APC.au is firmly committed to the use of ICTS to develop awareness of
and facilitate action towards addressing climate and environmental
issues. Our objectives include working to create a sustainable
environment for society, corporations and individuals17.
North America
Alternatives, Canada
Alternatives (Canada) has identified environmental sustainability as a
strategic priority in its present five-year action plan. Current
projects include the rooftop garden project and an online school of
social ecology with partners in Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia. The
rooftop garden project is an innovative partnership between
Alternatives and Montreal-based community organisations to empower
urban residents to produce their own food, green their neighborhoods
and build healthy communities. Alternatives is currently implementing
an international version of this project in Cuba. (
During the WSF in Belem, Alternatives lunched a new Environmental Web
platform called ECOmunidade (
aiming at promoting new practices of social ecology contributing at
developing sustainable societies in various sectors including social
economy, eco-tourism, alternatives energies, urban agriculture, etc.
Members of the project/network are Social org, unions, universities,
etc.. based in Cuba, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela and Argentina.
La Neta, Mexico
La Neta (Mexico) has had some experiences oriented to put ICT skills
for environmental sustainability. Maybe the most important is the
project "Emisiones: espacio virtual", that started In 1996 and was
developed during 4 years. This project focused on using new information
technologies to strengthen communication and information among
organizations working on environmental issues such as pollution from
toxic substances, environmental legislation and the right to
information. One of the objectives was to publicize and promote actions
in relation to the Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry (PRTR) that
the National Institute of Ecology (Instituto Nacional de Ecología—INE)
had been in the process of establishing. The work was carried out
basically through an Internet site and the emissions-l electronic
mailing list, in addition to direct communication, in person or through
the project’s electronic mail address with organizations and
individuals interested in the subject. Emissions: espacio virtual was
located—as its name indicates—in virtual space. It maintained contact
with organizations around the country, and from its virtual "center" it
distributed and administered its information services.
The environmental situation in Mexico is still very serious. While
there is legislation that regulates and establishes norms for certain
environmental aspects in the country, this has been insufficient. The
emissions project was initiated because of the need in Mexico for a
registry of industrial pollution and management of dangerous
substances—which is the objective of the PRTR. With such a registry, we
could be informed of toxic emissions in the air, water and soil that
affect communities. Despite the compiling of data for this registry
began, the communities didn´t have access to this information. That was
a very important reason to unite efforts among environmental and
citizen groups and organizations to continue to work for the right to
environmental information, something not frequently demanded in Mexico.
We were committed to this task and we were "virtually" and concretely
united.
Thus, other purpose of the "Emisiones: Espacio Virtual" project was to
communicate and take actions in response to the problem of dangerous
substances in Mexico. In order to fulfill this purpose, we were in
constant communication with organizations and individuals involved in
this type of work in order to join efforts in promoting and exercising
the right to environmental information, and to take actions designed to
have an impact on environmental policies in terms of the use of cleaner
technologies in industrial processes and to work for environmental
justice. We developed also relationships with Canada and the United
States. At the end of the project, it had managed to collect important
information on the experiences of organizations fighting against the
use of toxic substances and clandestine storage areas and trash dumps.
We had lists of toxic substances; an alternative list proposed by NGOs;
information on health and toxicology, and on pesticides; news items and
actions taken; and information on environmental legislation, on the
right to information, and on cross-border transporting of toxic
substances. Other organizations participate on an ongoing basis by
sending information and coordinating joint efforts in organizing
actions in favor of a healthy environment. Representatives of the
project attended international environmental meetings and developed
relationships with groups in the United States and Canada, especially
with environmental organizations and those working with the right to
information.
During two years LaNeta developed the portal "LaNeta en ambiente" (some
like LaNeta in environmental issues). It was an online collection of
information regarding the environmental Mexican movement from NGOs. It
was a response in terms that much of the environmental information on
the internet is fragmented. Unfortunately its financial support was the
principal reason for not to continue. Both projects Emisiones: espacio
virtual and Laneta en ambiente were developed under the direction of
Olinca Marino
Webnetworks, Canada
Webnetworks is developing Yodigo Inuktitut lessons for Inuit children
in Nunavut, using traditional myths and legends that embed eco friendly
values. They are also interested in the educational video game angle.
South and Central
America
Sula Batsú, Cost Rica
Sulá Batsú (Costa Rica) together with Fundación Galileo and HIVOS is
implementing the ReD-DES Program: Digital Resources for Sustainable
Economic Development in Central America.
The general objective is to Strengthen sustainable economic development
in the Central American region through the strategic incorporation of
ICTs by organizations and actions taken in sustainable production and
renewable energy that privilege improvement of life conditions for
vulnerable populations living in poverty.
The four key areas identified were: 1.Empowering the organizations
working in sustainable production and renewable energy, 2.Positioning
the voices of the most vulnerable populations so that their experiences
and visions are incorporated, 3.Developing markets for sustainable
production and, 4.Positioning local initiatives for renewable energy.
Target Population This regional program covers 5 countries in the
Central American region (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua
and Costa Rica). The final target population is marginalized and poor
individuals from Central America. The target population will be reached
through our partner organizations working in sustainable production and
renewable energy.
Implementation HIVOS, Fundación Galileo and Cooperativa Sulá Batsú will
implement the program jointly. Hivos will be in charge of the general
coordination of the program, Sulá Batsú will take over the technical
coordination and Fundación Galileo will oversee the technological
aspects. More information (in spanish):
Colnodo, Colombia
Colnodo (Colombia) has been working in the field of Environmental
Observatories. Right know we are running the Bogotá Envirionmental
Observatory. This ICT tool can be used as a mechanism to follow up
indicators that can support climate change research. The site is
available at http://oab.ambientebogota.gov.co
Colnodo has also been working with the National Network for Sustainable
Development, an instrument for engaging Colombian stakeholders in the
dissemination and implementation of Agenda 21 of the United Nations.
(Please see
for more information about Agenda 21.) Agenda 21 is a comprehensive
plan of action for tackling climate change and environmental
degradation at the local, national, and global level. Colnodo's
involvement in the project is focused on developing an electronic
communications network to facilitate implementation of the agenda,
broadcasting the successes of the initiatives via various media, and
ensuring civil society involvement in policymaking related to
sustainable development.
Colnodo was selected in 1994 to be the host of the Sustainable
Development Network for Colombia. Colnodo has have been involved in the
usage of ICTs and sustainable development mainly through the
Sustainable Development Network in Colombia (
projects developed through the SDN includes:
before Facebook) to facilitate the work of environmental groups working
in:
- Use, conservation and management of natural resources.
- Environmental management.
- Biodiversity
- Risk Reduction and Disaster Response
- Sustainability in the Production Contex
- Urban and Regional Development Environment
- Support of networks:
- Youth network.
- Wetlands.
- Environmental urban studies.
Strength of the Colombian Environmental National System through the SDN
experience (http://www.rds.org.co/convenio_rds.htm).
- Setup of the Environmental Observatories using ICTs (
http://oau.colnodo.apc.org)
Colnodo participated to the Athens IGF in the panel Greening ICTs and
The official national communication for Colombia about Climate Change.
Nodo Tau, Argentina
Nodo Tau (Argentina) runs several telecenters running refurbished
computers, as well as operation of 'portable' telecentre – Dealing with
these issues: e-waste, low power consumption computers, alternative
power sources.
We continue with the the refurbished telecentre project.
Last year we designed a basic computer training for CSOs in two
districts of the city. The training program is called Rodantic, a name
which comes from the fact that we have assembled a portable classroom
(three cases) with a refurbished notebook (Pentium II) in a LTSP scheme
(Linux Terminal Server Project). We have done two trainings last year
and we organize another one this year. - Since June 2008, Nodo TAU
designed and conducted a workshop on refurbishing and reconditioning of
Computers in Santa Monica Special School (for school age children with
disabilities) in the city of San Lorenzo, 27 km far from Rosario. See
In 2010, Nodo Tau will be making the first donations to some schools.
- During the year 2009, we prepared together with the Secretariat for
Solidarity Economy of the Municipality of Rosario and the INTI
(National Institute of Industrial Technology) a project of
a WEEE recycling plant (Waste Electrical and Electronic devices)
which will be managed by a cooperative.
Nodo Tau is responsible for staff training and it will provide the
three persons required for technical supervision of the plant
(Management Unit of the plant). The project is approved by the Ministry
of Labour and Social Security. Some minor items need to be finalized
and it will start running in the month of March or no later than April.
CEPES, Peru
In Huaral, at 100 km distance of Lima, CEPES (Peru) is improving the
use of ICT for the water management, better ways to use water on
farming, in a context of climate change and promoting the environmental
sustainability on coast farmers. The irrigation management system of
Huaral, now has a GIS. Coast farmers in
Peru work under special conditions. One of them is the water shortage,
that happens almost the entire year. That is why the monitoring of
climate and environment turns to be very important to the coast farmers
of Huaral, and the reason of CEPES's work. CEPES also runs a radio
program on climate change-related issues that is broadcast by Radio
Sembra Huaral. Climate change turns to be very important to coast
farmers, specially the farmers with small crop areas, because they are
more prone to be affected with temperature changes, humidity changes
(plagues, crop diseases, etc.). Peru has been identified (as part of
the andean reagion) as a country highly exposed to the negative impact
of climate change (
)
Cepes is also producing material in podcasting and video to be
distributed to rural people.
CONDESAN, Peru
CONDESAN, Andean region (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia,
Argentina and Chile). Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the
Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN) is not a member of APC but a long-standing
partner.
CONDESAN has many years of experience working on water management
issues. They have several initiatives in the Andean region looking at
the issue of climate change and water, and some of them are closely
linked with the intensive use of ICT. They have experience with remote
sensors and hydrological monitoring in small catchment areas. They
coordinate a GLORIA network (Global Observation Research Initiative in
Alpine Environment (http://www.gloria.ac.at/)
initiative in the Andes (
and they have also been engaged in the development of policy support
systems like AguaAndes (
For the last 5 years CONDESAN has been leading the Challenge Program on
Water and Food in the Andes which second phase has just started.
CONDESAN is leading a research in Peru on "Building Community
Resilience to the Social Dimensions of Climate Change and Improving the
Equity of Adaptation through the Action Coalition Framework" with the
support of the World Bank.
If you are interested to hear more about it, they will be happy to
provide more information. Contact: Miguel Saravia, Executive Director,
Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion,
Calle Mayorazgo 217, San Borja, Lima 41, Peru
miguel.saravia@condesan.org - http://www.condesan.org,
http:// www.infoandina.org
Europe
BlueLink, Bulgaria
BlueLink is an electronic information network, founded by environmental
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and active citizens who believe
that associated NGOs make a far greater and longer-lasting impact on
environmental decision making when working in a coordinated effort.
Over the years BlueLink has been serving as a forum for free
information exchange and an independent communication platform for
exchange of ideas and experiences among organisations and citizens from
Bulgaria and other parts of the world. At present BlueLink is an
up-to-date, virtual network offering a wide range of Internet-based
services in order to stimulate the strategic use of information and
communication technologies (ICTs) by the civil sector and to amplify
civic activism for progressive social change towards a socially and
environmentally responsible policy. BlueLink led much of APC's
embryonic work in environmental sustainability and ICTs, and its
formidable experience in the field of ICTs and environmental
sustainability has largely informed APC's plans for GreeningIT.
One World Platform
for South Eastern Europe - OWPSEE
One World Platform for South Eastern Europe - OWPSEE
(Bosnia-Herzegovina) has also prioritised environmental sustainability
in its current action plan. It is planning to build a knowledge base on
ICTs and environmental sustainability by collecting material from
relevant regional and global information sources and translating into
local working languages such as Bosnian and Serbian. It is also
pursuing a joint activity with local women's organisations to address
this issue from a gender perspective. (
Computer Aid
International, United Kingdom and Kenya
The production of a single personal computer (PC) consumes two and a
half tonnes of materials and expends ten times its weight in fossil
fuels. In the UK, Computer Aid International has successfully doubled
the effective working life of 115,000 PCs through re-use. They have
provided professionally refurbished PCs to educational and development
organisations, including environment and climate change projects, in
more than 100 developing countries. According to research from the UN
University in Tokyo, extending PC life through re-use is twenty times
more environmentally efficient than recycling a PC's component parts.
By refurbishing 115,000 PCs, Computer Aid has made possible more than
half a billion extra user hours.
Computer Aid is also helping metereological offices in Kenya, Zimbabwe,
and Uganda decentralise the analysis of climate information by
providing hardware and software to rural weather stations, enabling
them to conduct in-house analysis and issue forecasts and advice to
local farmers and fisher-people. By decentralising analysis capacity,
the accuracy of local climate data is improved and the weather stations
are able to assume an enhanced social function by assisting in
community preparedness against droughts, storms, and other adverse
climatic events. (This work is being done in partnership with national
meteorological offices in Africa as well as with the UK Metereological
Office and Reading University. Please see
more information.)
Green Spider, Hungary
In Hungary, Green Spider is running a re-use programme called "Green
PC." It collects used computers from organisations and individuals,
refurbishes and outfits them with FOSS operating systems, and then
donates them to small grassroots organisations. (
StrawberryNet, Romania
StrawberryNet (Romania) is supporting other Romanian NGOs working on
climate change issues by designing and hosting their websites for them
and providing them with information management services. Most active
amongst these NGOs are Terra Mileniul III and Alma-ro. This project is
currently funded by the British Embassy's “Young Ambassadors against
Climate Change” programme. (http://rac-ro.ngo.ro/concurs)
StrawberryNet also hosts the website of the Climate Action Network –
Romania. (http://www.rac-ro.ngo.ro)