DUBAI, UAE – The Technology Executive Committee (TEC) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has set forth a challenge to the developing countries to employ solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI) in enforcing climate actions in their respective jurisdictions – including optimization of renewable energy (RE) facilities that will be fueling global economies moving forward.

That recommendation is underpinned by the AI Innovation Grand Challenge, which is UN Climate Change’s partnership with Enterprise Neurosystem, a non-profit open source AI community.

The launch of that challenge was part of a high-level event congregated by the UN Climate Change’s TEC in collaboration with the COP28 Presidency in the United Arab Emirates; and it was also a strategic response to the call of UN Secretary General António Guterres to develop safe and reliable AI for “supercharge climate action” that can help advance goals on having climate-resilient and low-emissions development as aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

As noted by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, “we are seeing increasing evidence that artificial intelligence can prove an invaluable instrument in tackling climate change.”

He added “while we remain mindful of the associated challenges and risks of AI, the Innovation Grand Challenge is a promising step forward in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and empowering innovators in developing countries.”

Essentially, AI is already being applied to predict climate patterns – including the incursion of extreme weather events; and it also serves as a valuable tool in improving crop yields and reducing water usage, apart from improving the generation efficiency of RE systems.

Ali Zaidi, who is the National Climate Advisor of the United States and assistant to President Joe Biden, stipulated “we must manage the risks and seize the promise of artificial intelligence.”

He cited that the US, in particular, is committed to that journey as President Biden just recently issued an Executive Order prescribing new standards for AI safety and security.

“By working together, we can responsibly harness the power of this emerging technology to develop AI tools that help mitigate climate change risks, make our communities more sustainable and resilient, and build an equitable clean energy future for all,” Zaidi stressed.

For that targeted calculated approach on harnessing AI-anchored solutions, the COP28 convened government policymakers, development-partners and cooperation agencies, business leaders as well as the UN to exchange views and flesh out “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.”

Omar Sultan Al Olama, minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications of the UAE, highlighted that “harnessing AI as a strategic asset to mitigate climate change involves integrating it into national policies and plans.”

He specified such integration in national policies shall be aimed at facilitating “the use of data analytics to align policy with real-time climate data, thereby enhancing its efficacy and advancing technological development and scientific discovery in the field of energy.”

Al Olama said “these measures and policies should not be viewed in isolation, but rather as a unified global initiative, acknowledging that climate change transcends geographical boundaries and requires concerted global efforts.”

According to the Technology Mechanism Initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action (#AI4ClimateAction) which organized the event, the AI innovation challenge will sensibly examine “the potential of AI to scale up climate solutions in developing countries - with a focus on least developed countries and small island developing states.”

Shantal Munro-Knight, minister in the Prime Minister’s Office of Barbados, conveyed that their country will be partnering with international tech companies “to test their ideas in Barbados while contributing to the island’s development.”

She indicated “some ideas include using machine learning and AI to check for the presence of tropical diseases, design hurricane resistant buildings and plan infrastructure investment. Collaboration, training and technology transfer are key to ensuring that AI contributes effectively to climate mitigation and adaptation for small island developing states.”

Moreover, Senegal Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, Moussa Bocar Thiam stated that “it is important to adapt the technology to take account of the digital divide, especially among those most vulnerable to climate change. Integration of chatbot voice with local languages in these emerging technology tools is one solution that would ensure the existing digital divide is taken into account.”

Onward, calls for new collaborations and partnerships are being stepped up so these recommended digital solutions could deliver concrete results – both on the policy and implementation domains.