United Nations and Microsoft declared a collaboration recently, unveiling plans for a new AI-powered platform and a global climate data hub by the UNFCCC. This partnership aims to facilitate the measurement and analysis of worldwide progress in emission reduction. By streamlining the validation and analysis of climate data submitted by the 196 Parties to the Paris Agreement, this initiative addresses the urgency highlighted at COP28, where global leaders assess the sluggish advancement in meeting Paris Agreement climate goals.
Presently, the aggregation and analysis of carbon data are labor-intensive and often manual. Under this agreement, Microsoft will construct a platform supporting the UNFCCC’s Enhanced Transparency Framework, facilitating advanced global climate data analysis. The platform includes a new global climate data hub and an AI-driven analytics platform, providing UNFCCC and member states with efficient tools for reporting and validating progress towards carbon reduction targets. This encompasses tracking emissions from sectors like transportation, agriculture, and industry. Additionally, the platform will aid in devising carbon reduction strategies using simulations, benchmarks, and data visualizations, thereby saving time and resources.
Microsoft’s commitment of $3 million over two years will support the implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework and Global Stocktake mechanisms established by the Paris Agreement. Enacted in 2015, the Paris Agreement mandates countries to progressively reduce emissions to mitigate climate change’s impact and align with the Sustainable Development Goals.