COP28 Frames AI as a Crucial Tool for Climate Response in Developing Regions

At a pivotal moment in the global battle against climate change, the United Nations Climate Change Technology Executive Committee, or TEC, alongside cooperating parties, has initiated a grand challenge aimed at mobilizing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to bolster climate efforts in the developing world. This initiative was kick-started at a high-level UN event conducted in Dubai, underscored by the COP28 Presidency's collaboration, and zeroes in on the needs of both the least developed countries and small-island developing states.

United for Climate Innovation

The ambitious challenge is bolstered by an alliance with Enterprise Neurosystem – an open-source AI community dedicated to non-profit work. Key participants, encompassing influential leaders, UN entities, and members of the business sphere, convened to discuss AI's transformative potential in executing climatic strategies within developing countries whilst also addressing the risks that come with it, particularly the exacerbation of the digital divide exacerbated by imbalanced technological access.

Strategic Integration of AI

Omar Sultan Al Olama, the United Arab Emirates' Minister of State for AI, firmly holds that adopting AI as a strategic asset in climate mitigation is crucial and it should be seamlessly incorporated into national frameworks and policies. He further advocates for a global unified approach to climate policy, emphasizing that its effects are not contained by territorial lines but are a collective concern requiring a united front.

AI's potential as a key climate change combatant was echoed by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, claiming it as an 'invaluable instrument'. While cognizant of AI's inherent challenges and risks, the Innovation Grand Challenge has been lauded as a step in the right direction for leveraging AI's capabilities and fostering innovation within underdeveloped territories.

Addressing the Digital Divide

With regard to the prevailing digital divide, Moussa Bocar Thiam, Senegal's Communications Minister, suggests incorporating local languages into chatbot technology as a potential remedy. Similarly, Barbados is experimenting with international tech collaborations, testing concepts such as applying machine learning and AI for detection of tropical diseases, as explained by Shantal Munro-Knight from the Barbadians Prime Minister's Office. This creates opportunities for cooperation, expertise sharing, and technological transfer, which are fundamental for AI to effectively contribute to climatic adaptation and mitigation in small island nations.

Structured under the Technology Mechanism Initiative on AI for Climate Action, the high-level event aligns with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' appeal for trustworthy and efficacious AI development to bolster climate action. Ali Zaidi, assistant to the US president and national climate adviser, highlighted the collective responsibility to harness AI responsibly, utilizing its innovative edge to confront climate risks, foster sustainable communities, and pave the path towards a clean energy future that is equitable for all.

AI, climate, technology