Climate Change as a Strategic Priority for ICT4D Organisations: Current Attitudes, Responses and Needs

This paper considers the extent to which climate change has become a strategic priority for information and communications technology for development (ICT4D) organisations. Through a survey of 30 ICT4D organisations primarily from developing countries, as well as an overview of the thematic interests of authors participating in a recent publication on ICTs and environmental sustainability, it shows that there is a predominant interest in adaptation strategies in developing contexts. However, it also supports the argument that widespread, tangible ICT interventions at the local level are not yet being felt. This is due to many reasons, including capacity issues in organisations, the fact that many organisations are still positioning themselves appropriately in the field of ICTs and climate change, and unsupportive institutional contexts.