Internet Resilience for Community Support

How can we improve Internet resilience to support community in Aotearoa?

Many more people will be exposed to hazards by 2050 with escalating climate change events. How should communities prepare to communicate? How is community resilience developed even as climate-driven severe weather events are already causing “long-lasting hurt, grief and fear” according to the Climate Change Commission’s latest risk assessment?

Direct experiences in extreme weather events in Aotearoa New Zealand show communications as key to community well-being, their ability to respond and recover from events. Communities and people experiencing digital exclusion, including rural and remote communities, and people with disabilities, are often most at risk from and impacted by Internet disruption.

In 2025 Dr Ellen Strickland led a participatory research project in New Zealand to explore Internet infrastructure resilience in the context of climate change. The research, supported by the International Internet Society involved community members, government, the telecommunications sector, and technical experts (including Critical  Signals members). They produced a shared vision for Internet and communications resilience and recommendations for action. 

Ellen will reflect on the role of shared purpose as a basis for action, navigating tensions and opportunities around actions within communities and how we might better align action by others in the interests of communities.