Leveraging Responsible AI for Climate Action in Africa

In celebration of African Union Day on Saturday, May 25, 2024, the African Technology and Innovation Institutes (ATII) organised the African Day 2024 webinar. The event, themed “Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Climate Action in Africa,” provided a virtual platform for participants across the continent to discuss the far-reaching effects of climate change and its specific impact on Africa.

Guiding the panel session with her expertise, Dr. Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua, a Professor of Engineering and the Founder of ATII, posed a crucial question: How can Africa harness the power of AI to combat climate change and position itself as a global leader in climate action?

Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of the Responsible AI Lab and Co-founder of the Responsible AI Network (RAIN) Africa, emphasised the need for intentionality and planning in Africa’s climate action efforts. He called for the development of national AI strategies by all countries and the formulation of an African Union (AU) AI strategy focused on climate action. Prof. Kponyo highlighted the importance of local funding for research institutes to curate Afrocentric datasets and stressed the necessity of collaboration between government agencies, industries, and academia in addressing climate change.

He also underscored the importance of developing curricula to fill skill gaps and enhance digital competencies for the next generation. He advocated building capacity and awareness for emerging technologies across formal and informal sectors and suggested integrating AI and robotics into basic education. He referenced the RAIL Robotics Club initiative for Junior and Senior High Schools as a practical step in this direction. “The future belongs to those who can navigate through the digital space, so let’s keep building capacity,” he remarked.

Mr. John Kamara, CEO of Adanian Labs and Chair of the AI Center of Excellence Africa (AICE Africa) discussed the need for Africa to choose the right approach to combating climate change, whether through adaptation or mitigation. He highlighted the importance of collecting conceptual data on the continent and developing human resource capacity. Mr. Kamara stressed the necessity of reengineering the African mindset, investing in research and development, and fostering a culture of innovation to drive policy.

Mrs. Nela Duke Ekpenyong, Co-founder of LEGA.C Capital, echoed the sentiment of building capacity and investing in human resources. She emphasised the need to allocate resources for innovation as a primary approach to addressing climate change and its impact on Africa.

The webinar concluded with a call to action for increased collaboration, investment in research, and the adoption of emerging technologies to combat climate change and drive sustainable development in Africa.