18 May 2008: “Information and Communication Technologies are gaining importance in addressing climate change and the food crisis” said International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré at the third annual meeting of the UN Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and Development (GAID), held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 18-20 May 2008.

“On these issues, ICT is part of the solution, not part of the problem,” continued Touré. The GAID annual meeting sought to bring together partners to implement a number of information and communication technology (ICT) projects of “significant, catalyzing impact.” According to Craig Barrett, GAID Chair, the Alliance has already achieved results, including, as noted by the Executive Coordinator of the Alliance, Sarbuland Khan, organizing the first-ever meeting bringing together the private sector and the UN on the issue of climate change.
[UN News release ] [GAID Annual Meeting and Global Forum 2008]