UN Climate Tech Initiative Awards USD 5 Million to Boost AI-Driven Climate Solutions
The UN Climate Change Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Enterprise Neurosystem have announced the winners of the esteemed AI Innovation Grand Challenge, part of the UN Climate Change Technology Mechanism Initiative. This global competition focused on #AI4ClimateAction, seeking innovative AI solutions to combat climate change in vulnerable regions, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
With support from major sponsors like Kove, Red Hat, and Google, the competition attracted 114 cutting-edge proposals from 62 countries across six continents, with 19 submissions from SIDS and LDCs.
Thorough Selection Process
A panel of eight judges, appointed by TEC and the Enterprise Neurosystem, conducted a two-round evaluation to select the top five solutions. These finalists were chosen from an initial pool of 10 candidates:
- AI4SIDS: AI-powered climate resilience platform for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Team Leader: Letetia Addison, Trinidad and Tobago. - Chameleon AI: AI-driven platform optimizing irrigation for smallholder farmers.
Team Leader: Alinafe Kaliwo, Malawi. - Climate Smart Irrigator: Smart Water-Food-Energy Nexus system for efficient irrigation.
Team Leader: Edmond Ng’walago, Tanzania. - EmTrack by ACBA Energy: Advanced AI application for emissions tracking and carbon quantification.
Team Leader: Nair de Sousa, Angola. - RAICE: Precision irrigation technology for sustainable rice farming.
Team Leader: Asbina Baral, Nepal.
Prize Pool and Global Impact
The five winning teams will collectively receive over USD 5 million in technology and services to scale their solutions. Prizes include:
- Kove: USD 5 million in credits for its advanced Software-Defined Memory (SDM™) technology.
- Red Hat: USD 300,000 in credits for OpenShift AI services on AWS (ROSA).
- Google: A six-month membership in the Google Startups for Sustainable Development Program, valued at USD 40,000.
These groundbreaking solutions highlight the power of AI in addressing climate challenges, offering promising outcomes for regions most impacted by climate change.
Link 2: https://enter.innovationgrandchallenge.ai/2024-info-submission