Digital tools for empowering local communities in climate and resource management
Local communities live in close proximity with natural resources. As a result, their knowledge and engagement with the nature often becomes a vital determinant of the sustainable lifestyle they lead. All through the years, these local communities have been optimizing the natural resources as a potent source for everyday essentials; however, the traditional methodologies may not be adequate enough in the wake of environmental and climatic evolution in the current times. Therefore, there is an urgent need to empower our local communities with new age digital tools that can help them to better manage these resources.
The most common digital tool in today’s time is the mobile phone. When used the right way it can empower the local communities to manoeuvre through the impact of climate by resource management. Enabling real time data collection in a transparent manner, the local communities can now take informed decision. Since these communities live in close proximity with natural resources, arming them with such information will enable them to use their traditional knowledge and thus come up with better ways to engage and live a sustainable life. Especially in developing countries, these digital tools have the potential to educate and inform the local communities while aiding them to adapt to rapidly-changing climate.
Ever since its penetration and that of internet in rural areas, the mobile apps have become the biggest aid when it comes to accessing information easily,for example,some free to use apps with regular information aboutday-to-day activities. Low-cost sensors can help to collect this information.Information on weather patterns, water level, deforestation, and scores of other factors can be accessed with the click of a button. AI-driven platforms can further help the members of local communities in understanding patterns that seemed incomprehensible previously. Government is also enabling satellite data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).This climate data collection, prediction and resource managementultimately enable data-backed beneficial decisions.
Availability and affordability of digital tools enable the local citizens to actively contribute to manage climate risk, thereby enhancing local decision making. Detailed data-driven insights, forecasting climate impactsand offering resource management solutions, are much needed in today’s time. When readily available, they will be utilised by local communities to derive maximum benefits.
With the help of GIS, communities can use digital maps and accordingly do land planning for agricultural purposes. In this way, even remote communities can map resources and plan their development project. This way they can contribute to make a positive move in the direction of climate mitigation. For this,digital literacy and inclusion of everybody is critical for communities, thereby helping them to adapt to climate changes. These tools can help in disaster preparedness, water management as well as sustainable agriculture. As it helps to achieve SDG 13, empowering local communities through digital tools can contribute to these global targets too.
YouTube is another digital tool that can educate local communities on sustainable practices and climate change effects. The engaging content in local languages imparts information about the right practices. Marked difference has been seen in sectors that include water resource management, sustainable agriculture and disaster management. It is interesting to note that women too are becoming proactive and participating in environment conservation. Empowered by YouTube and other informative platforms, these women learn how to impact the environment from the comforts of their homes. Since they are the most affected by climate change, they are also the ones who can play a crucial role in making an impact.
Adaptation of these digital tools bringsalong its own set of challenges, whether it’s with regard toinfrastructure limitations, lack of digital literacy or affordability in remote or underdeveloped regions. Even as steps are being taken to improve and maximize the reach of digital tools, a lot remains to be done for capacity-building initiatives, governmental support, and public-private partnershipsthat can promote the integration of digital tools into local climate strategies. And these challenges in totality are impacting the growth of local communities immensely.
The solution to overcome these limitations and ethical consideration of digital tools is to familiarize the users with them. Conduction of training programme for local communities is the key. As they learn the right way of using digital tools, the teething problems can be sorted. The right knowhow and affordability towards the digital ecosystem further strengthens digital literacy and infrastructural understanding.The future in fact holds immense potential even as digital tools are aiming at decentralised energy solution like use of solar micro grid and energy saving platform. These digital tools have the potential to empower the local communities to such an extent that they can even reach the policy makers and thus play a crucial role in policy making. In the near future, we can expect innovative digital tools in India to expand beyond the borders.
Dr. Sanju Purohit, Associate Professor (Volunteer) at Akamai University, USA, and a Research Fellow at the Women Researcher Council at Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC)