With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), Africa may develop in a way that is significantly more climate resilient. Examples of this include Mozambique's flooding patterns being predicted and agri-food systems throughout the continent being optimised.
The UN Climate Change's Initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action is investigating a number of applications for AI, including these.
"As a powerful tool for advancing and scaling up transformative climate action in developing countries," artificial intelligence (AI) is the focus of this programme.
In order to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged for the development of AI that is "reliable and safe" and that can "supercharge climate action."
There are already some AI-powered initiatives in place to tackle climate change in underdeveloped nations, such as Small Island underdeveloped States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs):
A few important takeaways from Africa Climate Week (ACW) were the necessity of ensuring AI is used ethically and the creation of regulatory frameworks:
Early warning systems to notify populations of imminent calamities can be provided by AI-powered models. Artificial Intelligence is being used by the Biosphere Reserves as Observatories for Climate Change Adaptation in Southern Africa (Be-Resilient) project to forecast Mozambique's flood patterns.
AI can enhance crop management and agri-food systems by forecasting the ideal planting dates, evaluating the condition of the soil, and keeping an eye out for pest and disease outbreaks. AI-powered precision farming can also increase food production, encourage sustainable farming methods, and use less water.
Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that forecast energy demand, optimise grid operations, and seamlessly integrate renewable energy sources can increase the efficiency and dependability of renewable energy systems while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging a move towards low-emission energy solutions. For instance, Global Renewables Watch employs a live atlas designed to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite data to map and measure utility-scale solar and wind installations.
