The social, technological, economic, and political roles of information and communication technologies in extreme heat adaptation in urban Southeast Asia

Abstract

Enhancing adaptation measures for extreme heat, especially in developing regions and tropical climates, is essential as climate change accelerates. In this context, information and communication technologies (ICTs) play key roles in these adaptation strategies. This paper presents a qualitative analysis of ICTs' role in facilitating extreme heat adaptation specifically in urban Southeast Asia. The analysis is based on 25 semi-structured expert interviews and utilises the social, technological, economic, and political (STEP) framework. Our analysis identifies several factors that drive the deployment of ICTs for adaptation, and it illustrates the ways in which ICTs integrate extreme heat adaptation with risk management initiatives. These initiatives include heat warning dissemination, raising awareness, and optimising energy consumption. Furthermore, we examine the external STEP factors that either facilitate or hinder these processes. In addition, we discuss strategies for leveraging ICTs to enhance responses to extreme heat adaptation effectively.