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Technology Innovations for Climate Resilience

December 4, 2019

The World Bank is at the forefront of a movement to address climate change. Starting in 2021, the World Bank will invest $200 billion to help countries, and developing nations in particular, act against climate change.

“There’s a need for solutions that support people not only in surviving a disaster, but also in bouncing back better, so they don’t irretrievably lose infrastructure, services or sink back into poverty,” said Atishay Abbhi, disaster risk management specialist with the World Bank’s Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management unit.

“They also need better systems to gather and analyze information, and communicate timely warnings, so that vulnerable communities can take action to reduce their risk and accelerate recovery.”


Improving Infrastructure with Technology

The World Bank is focused on improving the infrastructure of several technology areas to support climate change resilience.

Disruptive technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence and drones are key to both disaster prevention and recovery. Their benefits can help technology companies improve resilience solutions and countries better understand climate risks and recovery needs.

  • 5G and IoT: Data communication networks can enhance data collection from existing sensors and cloud-connected devices. These devices can improve climate modeling processes, which can create more accurate tactics for climate resilience.

  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning: Patterns based on relevant data can identify problems and opportunities that the human eye may miss. Examples include warning sign detection, automated deployment of response systems and management of renewable energy solutions.

  • Blockchain: Information vacuums can erode trust and subvert the expansion of response systems. Blockchain, a type of distributed ledger technology, can increase transparency in disaster response and communication. These technologies can support analysis and accountability in supply chains, environmental compliance and energy systems.

  • Drones: Drones can aid disaster relief and assist areas where human response systems are unable to reach. Airborne technologies can deliver emergency relief supplies and provide intelligence to artificial intelligence response system and human first responders.

  • Cloud computing: Processing power is key to bolstering response efforts. Cloud computing services grant affected countries and technology companies the ability to quickly deploy response efforts and communicate with those in affected areas.

    • Bridging the gap between technology companies and local governments is vital to the development of climate resilience solutions. CES 2020 will bring these groups together through conference content, show floor exhibits and networking opportunities.

    “Our main motivation for being there is to bring a perspective that’s not very well known in the tech industry,” Abbhi said.

    “So far, it’s mostly been the responsibility of the public sector to work on climate resilience. We’re bring representatives of governments with climate resilience needs to present their challenges and use cases to create or enable partnerships to develop solutions.”

    Read more about what technologies are disrupting climate change resilience and learn about the benefits of co-development in the full report Disruptive Tech for Climate Change Resilience (PDF).