COP30 Announcement: Artificial Intelligence Climate Institute

Time: 11 November, 14:00-15:00
Venue: Thematic Room 2, Action Agenda Thematic Space, Blue Zone

Objective
Official announcement of the Artificial Intelligence Climate Institute to empower developing countries with AI skills for climate action—bridging digital divides and fostering sustainable innovation.

Speakers
Mr. Frederico de Siqueira Filho, Minister, Brazilian Ministry of Communications
Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary General, International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Ms. Nigar Arpadarai, UN High Level Climate Champion of COP29
Mr. Guilherme Canela, Director for Division for Digital Inclusion and Policies and Digital Transformation, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco)
Dr Maria João Sousa, Executive Director, Climate Change AI
Mr Fabro Steibel, Executive Director, Institute Technology and Society (ITS Rio)
Mr Pedro Ivo Ferraz da Silva, Member of the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and Coordinator for ST&I, Climate Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil
Dr Renata Tedeschi, Instituto Tecnológico Vale, student of the pilot workshop

Target audience
Policy makers, philanthropies, tech industry, educators, NGOs in the climate and digital sectors, financial institutions

Key objectives
1) Presented the successful pilot workshop of the institute in Belém (13–17 October 2025), which demonstrated AI-driven climate solutions for developing regions.
2) Officially announced the Artificial Intelligence Climate Institute (AICI).
3) Presented the 2026–2027 operational plan to build AI capacity for climate action across the Global South.
4) Introduced the project of an open digital learning repository with resources on AI and climate.
5) Mobilized partnerships among governments, development banks, philantropies and private actors for implementation and scaling.

Agenda
2 min Welcome & Introduction
Speaker: Fabro Steibel, ITS Rio

2 min Opening remarks
Speaker: Pedro Ivo Ferraz da Silva, UNFCCC TEC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil

3 min Remarks
Speaker: Nigar Arpadarai, UN High Level Climate Champion of COP29

25 min The AI Climate Institute pilot workshop (Belém, 13-17/10)
Speakers: Maria João Sousa, Climate Change AI
Renata Tedeschi, Instituto Tecnológico Vale, student of the pilot workshop
● Programme overview
● Students and lecturers
● Lessons learned

25 min AI Climate Institute – Official Announcement
Speakers: Frederico de Siqueira Filho, Minister, Brazilian Ministry of Communications
Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary General, ITU
Guilherme Canela, Director for Division for Digital Inclusion and Policies and Digital Transformation, UNESCO
● 2-year plan
● Call for partnerships

3 min Closing Remarks
Speaker: Pedro Ivo Ferraz da Silva, UNFCCC TEC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil