Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to join you today at this important side event on the role of Artificial Intelligence in addressing the climate crisis.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Permanent Missions of the Kingdom of Morocco and of France, co-chairs of the Group of Friends for Climate Action, for hosting this event, in collaboration with the AI for the Planet initiative.
Climate change is a growing threat to our planet, especially to vulnerable communities in the Global South.
We must work urgently to limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while also building resilience and enhancing adaptation. In order to do this, we need emissions to peak by 2025 at the latest and to be cut in half by 2030.
To reach these goals, we need innovation and cutting-edge technologies. AI can play a crucial role in driving transformative solutions.
AI has the potential to reshape our understanding of climate systems and enable accurate forecasting and modelling.
AI can also help farmers optimize their practices, reduce waste, and minimize the environmental impact of food production.
This can be especially beneficial to small-scale farmers in the Global South who face challenges such as extreme weather events, water scarcity, and land degradation.
AI-based tools can help these farmers better understand soil health, monitor crop health, and predict yields, enabling them to adapt to changing conditions and enhance food security.
AI can help accelerate energy transition by optimizing energy savings and improving energy efficiency across energy-intensive sectors.
Additionally, AI-driven smart grids can balance supply and demand, facilitating the integration of renewables into energy systems and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
AI can also help identify areas at risk from natural disasters, enabling targeted investments in adaptation and resilience. Moreover, AI can help prioritize relief efforts, ensuring that resources are distributed to those most in need.
But we must also ensure equitable access to AI technologies, protect privacy, and mitigate biases within AI systems.
Collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society will be essential for harnessing AI's power while addressing its limitations.
In conclusion, AI has the potential to revolutionize our approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Let me quote what Secretary-General António Guterres said in 2019 “We must all work together to develop frameworks and systems that enable responsible innovation. We must seize the moment, in partnership, to deliver on the promise of technological advances and harness them for the common good."
I wish you a fruitful and successful meeting today.
Thank you.