2024-07-13 22:50:31
This major challenge was launched during a high-level side-event of COP28, organized by the UN Climate Change Technology Mechanism in collaboration with the COP28 Presidency.
“There is growing evidence that Artificial Intelligence can be a valuable tool in the fight against climate change. While we are aware of the challenges and risks associated with AI, the Grand Innovation Challenge represents a promising step forward in harnessing the power of technology and empowering innovators in developing countries,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell.
For his part, the UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy, Omar Sultan Al Olama, stressed that harnessing AI as a strategic asset to mitigate climate change involves integrating it into national policies and plans.
This integration facilitates the use of data analytics to align policies with real-time climate data, thereby improving their effectiveness and advancing technological development and scientific discovery in the field of energy, he said, noting that these measures and policies should not be considered in isolation, but rather as a unified global initiative.
Artificial Intelligence is already being used to predict climate patterns and extreme weather events, improve crop yields, reduce water use or optimize renewable energy systems.
This high-level side event brought together government leaders and representatives from the United Nations, development cooperation agencies and businesses to discuss how AI can be used for transformational climate action in developing nations, while ensuring that it does not contribute to widening the digital divide caused by unequal access to technology.
The event was organized as part of the Technology Facility initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action (#AI4ClimateAction) which explores the potential of AI to scale up climate solutions in developing countries, with a focus on least developed countries and small island developing states.
The #AI4ClimateAction initiative aims to advance climate-resilient and low-emission development, in line with UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ call to develop trusted and safe AI that can supercharge climate action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
2024-07-13 22:50:31