The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has joined forces with Microsoft to develop an AI-powered platform to monitor global carbon emissions and evaluate progress under the Paris Agreement. This technology will streamline the validation and analysis of climate data, enhancing the efficiency of reporting and validating progress towards carbon reduction targets.
UNFCCC and Microsoft Join Forces to Tackle Carbon Emissions
In a groundbreaking move, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has partnered with tech giant Microsoft. Their goal? To use artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced data technology to track global carbon emissions and assess progress under the Paris Agreement.
AI-Powered Platform for Climate Action
Leaders from both organizations announced the creation of a new AI-powered platform and global climate data hub. This will simplify the process of validating and analyzing climate data submitted by the 196 Parties to the Paris Agreement.
“You can’t fix what you can’t measure, and these new AI and data tools will allow nations to measure emissions far better than they can today,” said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft.
Technology and Collaboration: Key to Tackling Climate Change
Simon Stiell, UNFCCC executive secretary, highlighted the importance of technology and collaboration in tackling the global climate emergency. He expressed his pleasure at working with Microsoft to develop the necessary tools.
“Climate change is a global emergency that goes beyond borders. It will require technology for adaptation and mitigation. Progress also requires collaboration from trusted partners,” said Stiell.
Revolutionizing Carbon Data Analysis
Currently, aggregating and analyzing carbon data is a time-consuming process, often done manually. Microsoft will build a new platform to provide digital support to the UNFCCC’s Enhanced Transparency Framework. This will enable advanced analysis of global climate data, equipping UNFCCC and member states with the tools to efficiently report and validate progress toward carbon reduction targets.
Transparency, Accountability, and Action
The work also includes creating Global Climate Dashboards for publication on the UNFCCC website. This will increase transparency and accountability, and ultimately, spur meaningful climate action. Microsoft has committed $3 million over two years to help enable the implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework and the Global Stocktake mechanisms established by the Paris Agreement.
This partnership signifies a crucial step forward in the fight against climate change, leveraging technology to measure, manage, and mitigate global carbon emissions.
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