Leaders from the United Nations and Microsoft Corp. revealed a new collaboration on Thursday to facilitate the UNFCCC in establishing an innovative AI-powered platform and a global climate data hub. This initiative aims to assess and scrutinize the worldwide advancement in reducing emissions more effectively. The primary goal is to streamline the validation and analysis of climate data presented by the 196 Parties to the Paris Agreement.
This partnership emerges at a pivotal moment as global governments convene at COP28, hosted by the UNFCCC and the COP28 UAE Presidency, to evaluate the sluggish progress in meeting the climate objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement.
Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, emphasized the urgency, stating, “The acceleration of carbon emission reductions is imperative. The essence lies in the fact that without proper measurement, the issues cannot be addressed effectively. The introduction of these advanced AI and data tools will enhance nations’ capabilities to measure emissions significantly better than the existing methods.”
Simon Stiell, the Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, highlighted the significance of collective action, stating, “The Paris Agreement serves as the foundation for nations worldwide to curtail greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. Climate change poses a universal crisis that transcends borders, necessitating technological interventions for adaptation and mitigation. Progress mandates collaborative efforts with reliable partners to develop the requisite tools stipulated by the framework. We are delighted to collaborate with Microsoft in this endeavor.”
Presently, the aggregation and analysis of carbon data are laborious tasks often carried out through manual processes. As per the agreement, Microsoft will construct a novel platform to provide digital support for the UNFCCC’s Enhanced Transparency Framework. This platform will facilitate sophisticated analysis of global climate data by establishing a new global climate data hub and an AI-driven data analytics platform. These tools will equip UNFCCC and member states with the necessary resources to efficiently report and validate advancements towards carbon reduction objectives. The scope includes monitoring emissions from various sectors such as transportation, agriculture, and industrial processes. Additionally, it will offer tools for devising carbon reduction strategies through simulations, benchmarks, and data visualizations, aiding in informed decision-making and resource optimization.
Furthermore, this endeavor will involve the development of Global Climate Dashboards for public dissemination on the UNFCCC website, enhancing transparency, fostering accountability, and ultimately guiding purposeful climate actions.
Microsoft has pledged $3 million over a two-year period to facilitate the implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework and the Global Stocktake mechanisms established under the Paris Agreement.
Since its enactment in 2015, the Paris Agreement mandates countries to diminish emissions to mitigate the repercussions of climate change and strengthen these commitments progressively. The effective execution of the Paris Agreement is crucial for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals.
In a bid to expedite climate action, Microsoft and the UNFCCC will collaborate to host a series of events aimed at driving climate initiatives in the UNFCCC Pavilion (Blue Zone) at COP28.
About UNFCCC
The UNFCCC secretariat (UN Climate Change) is the United Nations body entrusted with bolstering the global response to the climate change crisis. UNFCCC stands for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) is dedicated to enabling digital transformation in the age of intelligent cloud and intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every individual and organization worldwide to accomplish more.
