AI in climate change fight
Vulnerable communities continue to grapple with the accelerating impacts of climate change, especially in Africa despite its low contributions to greenhouse gases. Several efforts have been put in place to help mitigate and also enable these communities to adapt to these impacts but still more needs to be done. World leaders are gathering in Baku for the COP29 to try and come up with a framework to define the next generation of climate finance commitments. The New Collective Quantification Goal aims to enhance climate finance in terms of scale, scope, predictability and equity, supporting both mitigation and adaptation efforts, with a particular focus on the needs of developing countries. The achievement of this goal will need increased capacity among African researchers and the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). While AI has been applied in addressing climate change impacts globally, Africa is still trailing. This is attributed to limited training opportunities across the continent, with the African Union Development Agency report of 2021 indicating that less than 25 per cent of graduates focus on STEM courses in African universities. In addition, AI skills and outcomes are not yet adequately institutionalised. In response to these challenges, the Africa Research and Impact Network in Nairobi, through a grant from the International Development and Research Centre, aims to build the capacity of early career researchers and policymakers, and entrench AI skills in institutions of higher learning in Africa. The project will provide targeted training and fellowships to over 100 fellows — 70 per cent will be early career researchers and 30 per cent policymakers. It will build evidence on best practices, demonstrating where AI has been or can be scaled up to catalyse climate action and resilience. Additionally, it will establish and sustain a support network for AI experts, fostering continuous learning and capacity strengthening for climate action.