“Unlocking Climate Solutions: The Power of Crowdsourced Innovations at COP28”

As the world confronts the urgent challenges posed by climate change, innovative minds and researchers are diligently crafting creative strategies to reduce its effects. The impending COP28 conference will highlight groundbreaking initiatives from start-ups utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to predict, manage, and combat climate change.

One of the standout features will be the Green Digital Action segment, facilitated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in collaboration with a diverse coalition of partners, which includes various United Nations agencies, governmental bodies, the private sector, and civil society organizations. This initiative is designed to illustrate how digital technologies can pave the way for a sustainable future, emphasizing the vital role of cooperation in maximizing resource efficiency and minimizing electronic waste.

A particularly intriguing event under the Green Digital Action initiative is the much-anticipated session titled “Crowdsourcing AI Solutions for Climate Change.”

Catch the event live here: Crowdsourcing AI Solutions for Climate Change – YouTube.

This session will feature the AI/ML in 5G Challenge, which aims to lower the energy usage of 5G networks, alongside an Innovation Factory pitching competition under the AI for Good Climate Change Innovation Factory banner. Numerous start-ups are participating, each unveiling innovative AI-driven solutions designed to tackle climate change.

After careful evaluations based on criteria outlined by various UN agencies, five exceptional start-ups have advanced to the final round of the Innovation Factory on December 2 at COP28 in Dubai.

Here are the impressive finalists:

– **Poseidon-AI PTE LTD**, led by Amaj Rahimi Midani, was recognized for its unique approach to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) challenge: How can we integrate AI into isotope hydrology studies to enhance water management and address global water issues?

– **TOLBI**, created by Mouhamadou Kebe, and **Finapp**, developed by Angelo Amicarelli, responded to a challenge posed by both the IAEA and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): How can AI assist in evaluating soil properties over large areas using various data collection techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, gamma spectrometry, and satellite imagery?

– **SI Analytics**, led by Yeji Choi and Doyi Kim, were selected for a challenge from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) examining how AI can aid in forecasting floods and droughts, providing early warnings, and detecting vulnerabilities in water resources impacted by climate change.

– Lastly, **Bloom**, designed by Hamza Mohammed, secured the chance to pitch live at COP28 with their innovative answer to the FAO’s Food & Climate-smart Agriculture challenge, which asked: How can AI enhance the open-source Earth Map to help users recognize water-related challenges in specific areas while delivering crucial insights into water resources?

From predicting climate trends to optimizing energy use, these innovative submissions highlight the vast potential of AI in the ongoing battle against climate change. Notably, the jury has invited Shaun Conway of **ixo** to showcase a solution at the upcoming AI for Good Global Summit in 2024, underscoring AI’s critical role in addressing diverse global challenges and supporting various UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The forthcoming crowdsourcing initiative at COP28 marks a significant advancement in merging AI with climate action. As the final pitching session approaches, there is considerable optimism about AI’s role in enhancing our collective response to climate change.

Stay updated on Green Digital Action at COP28 and connect with the ITU’s AI for Good team in celebrating pioneering start-ups leveraging AI to create a sustainable future.

**Thomas Basikolo** serves as an advisor for ITU’s Focus Group on Autonomous Networks and coordinates AI for Good projects focusing on machine learning (ML) in 5G.

The original version of this article was published on ITU News and can be found here.

AI for Good, Young Expert
**Thomas Basikolo**
Programme Officer, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)