Announcement of the new Artificial Intelligence Climate Institute

COP30, Belém, Brazil

Recognizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a transformative enabler for climate action, a new Artificial Intelligence Climate institute (AICI) is launched during COP 30. Under the Green Digital Action Hub, this initiative is supported by Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to strengthen technological capabilities and unlock local innovation in developing countries, so that AI can help address the climate crisis.

Advancing skills, inclusion, and partnerships for climate action

The new institute is set to equip individuals and institutions in developing countries with the skills and resources needed to design, adapt, and apply AI solutions in support of climate action.  This initiative aims to ensure that all countries can harness AI-powered climate innovations meaningfully and derive local economic and social benefits.

AICI will develop training programmes, digital learning platforms, and partnerships that connect governments, academia, and industry to advance the responsible use of AI for climate action.

Strategically launched within the broader framework of the Green Digital Action initiative, AICI will be anchored under its thematic pillar focused on enabling and skills development. It directly addresses Objective 4 of the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action: “Promoting Digital Inclusion and Literacy,” which emphasizes expanding access to digital technologies for climate action in developing countries, including Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. This includes supporting efforts in digital skills training, digital literacy, and capacity-building initiatives, with a particular focus on empowering young people and women. Positioning AICI within this comprehensive framework ensures its impact is amplified and fully aligned with global priorities for sustainable and inclusive development.

Institutional collaboration and next steps

AICI will benefit from collaborative efforts by ITU, UNESCO, and Anatel, with the extent of its activities contingent on securing sufficient resources for an impactful implementation.

ITU will support the new institute with technical expertise, ensuring synergies with  ITU Academy, and partnerships through the AI Skills coalition.

UNESCO will contribute to projects on ethical and energy-efficient AI, applications for water management, disaster risk reduction, and environmental monitoring, while aligning efforts with its ethical AI and open science frameworks. It will co-develop educational modules, promote AI literacy and capacity building, and expand AICI’s reach in climate-sensitive regions, particularly water-stressed and ecosystem-rich areas by leveraging its extensive networks, UNESCO Chairs, Global Geoparks Network, and scientific programs like the Man and the Biosphere Programme and the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme.

Anatel will provide institutional anchoring and operational hosting for the AICI Secretariat at the newly established Green Digital Action Hub, ensuring a strong foundation for its operations.

The three institutions have underlined their shared commitment to mobilize partners, funding entities, and research networks to operationalize AICI for an initial two-year work plan starting in 2026. 

Join the AICI community

Anyone interested in building digital skills inclusively and leveraging AI for climate action is encouraged to collaborate in this endeavour. Together, the AICI community aims to ensure that the power of AI contributes effectively to global efforts in combating climate change and promoting inclusive and sustainable development.