Geoinformatics and Communication Technologies for Climate Change Hazards: Musing Beyond the Technical Issues

Information and communication technologies (ICTs), including geospatial analysis tools, are part of both the triggering causes of and the possible solutions for the climate change issue. In 2007, it was estimated that the operation of ICT equipment accounts for about 2% to 2.5% of the global greenhouse gas emissions annually (Kumar and Mieritz 2007). Yet, at the same time, ICTs are substantially contributing to reduction in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, for example, by replacing paper-based technology with online publishing. In addition, the use of these technologies permits better understanding of climate change and facilitates the transfer of the acquired knowledge. ICTs hold immense potential in the area of natural hazard prediction and detection. The chapter provides an insight on the non thechnological dimensions of the latest developments in teh application of geoinformatics and ICT to climate change studies