24 July 2013: The UN Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Development (UN-APCICT) of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) launched two publications as part of its ‘Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders,’ which address how ICTs can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as green growth.

The ‘ICT, Climate Change and Green Growth’ publication represents the tenth Academy module. It aims to inform decision makers about the role of ICTs in addressing climate change and green growth, with a specific focus on the Asia-Pacific region. It identifies smart, green technologies to help mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, monitor climate change and the environment, address disaster risk reduction (DRR) and disaster risk management (DRM) and adapt to anticipated changes. The publication includes case studies illustrating how governments and the private sector have harnessed ICTs to address climate change, sustainable development and green growth. Finally, it includes policy recommendations for incorporating ICTs into national climate change policy frameworks and promoting green growth.

The ‘Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Toolkit’ is a step-by-step guide for assessing the progress and impact of the Academy programme at the national level.

In addition to the M&E Toolkit, the APCICT Virtual Academy website includes audio and video presentations as part of its M&E content. The Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders aims to provide government officials and policymakers with the knowledge and skills to leverage ICT for development, including in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), increasing access to information and bridging the digital divide. [UN APCICT Press Release] [Publication: ICT, Climate Change and Green Growth] [APCICT Virtual Academy]