- UNDP and IBM developed two new interactive models for UNDP's
Data Futures Exchange's GeoHub: the AI model Electricity Access
Forecasting and the statistical geospatial model Clean Energy
Equity Index.
- The organizations collaborated through the IBM
Sustainability Accelerator program using technologies such as IBM
watsonx, IBM Cloud and IBM Environmental Intelligence.
- The new models will be made available for free to the
general public through UNDP's GeoHub dashboards, helping users
access data and insights to interpret complex clean energy
challenges and opportunities.
ARMONK, N.Y., Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM)
and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today launched new
interactive models on energy within UNDP's global
GeoHub platform. These innovative solutions use technologies
such as the IBM watsonx AI and data platform to enable users — from
policymakers at the national and community level to the general
public — to analyze complex energy issues through advanced
artificial intelligence (AI) technology and access a wide range of
resources, helping support data-driven decision-making toward a
just energy transition.
"Bringing together UNDP's knowledge and global leadership in
sustainable development and IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI
and hybrid cloud, we are proud to unveil solutions that demonstrate
the power of technology to make a lasting, positive impact on our
environment and in our communities," said Justina Nixon-Saintil, IBM Vice President and
Chief Impact Officer. "By making innovative models freely
accessible to the public, we aim to empower leaders, organizations
and community members alike with the insights to make impactful
energy decisions around the world."
As part of UNDP's Data Futures Exchange (DFx), GeoHub is a
centralized ecosystem of geospatial data and services. It provides
a platform to easily upload, visualize and analyze datasets,
combining time-oriented and geographic data with satellite imagery.
GeoHub supports a granular, localized, and evidence-based approach
to development challenges and integrated policy making— from
determining subnational distribution of electricity access, to
assessing levels of vulnerability to the effects of climate change
for communities over time.
"UNDP's innovative collaboration with IBM helps countries
leverage development data and technology innovation to improve
lives and protect the planet. The solutions we've co-created
provide a credible evidence base to help countries make meaningful
and practical progress towards a just energy transition. Net-zero
investment and people-centered development strategies are
fundamental to accelerate the SDGs," said Laurel Patterson, Head of the UNDP SDG
Integration Team, UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support.
UNDP and IBM worked together over two years through the IBM
Sustainability Accelerator program. This project started with
a collaborative engagement through the IBM Garage, and resulted in
the enhancement of UNDP's GeoHub with two innovative models: the AI
model Electricity Access Forecasting and the statistical geospatial
model Clean Energy Equity Index.
- The Electricity Access Forecasting AI model uses the IBM
watsonx AI and data platform, IBM Cloud, and an open-source machine
learning library to provide future forecasts at scale of
electricity access through 2030 by evaluating a set of factors
including population, infrastructure, urbanization, elevation, and
satellite data in addition to land use data provided by IBM
Environmental Intelligence. By modeling these factors to make a
future forecast, the Electricity Access Forecasting model provides
a distinct advantage compared to more commonly available,
current-day estimates of electricity access. The model will contain
data from 102 countries across the Global South, including in
Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin
America and the Middle
East.
- The Clean Energy Equity Index, developed by IBM and UNDP
together with Stony Brook
University, is a first-of-its-kind statistical geospatial model
combining geospatial analytics with environmental, economic and
social factors – such as education, greenhouse gas emissions, and
relative wealth — to generate a Clean Energy Equity score of 0-1.
This score reflects both opportunities for clean energy development
as well as urgency, through the lens of equity and a just
transition. In this dashboard, GeoHub users can also individually
view and customize each environmental, economic, or social factor
analyzed in the model, to evaluate which factors have the greatest
impact on equitable access to clean energy, empowering better
decision making. The model will provide data from 53 African
countries.
Historically, advanced models like these have not always been
freely accessible and applicable to all users. Together, IBM and
UNDP set out to co-create solutions that would strengthen free
public access to complex clean energy information and advanced
technology, while simultaneously providing essential energy
resources for policymakers, governments, journalists and decision
makers.
About the IBM Sustainability Accelerator
Launched in 2022, the IBM Sustainability Accelerator is a social
impact program that addresses environmental threats impacting
vulnerable communities around the world. Each year, the program
selects about five projects to scale technology and AI solutions
within a new sustainability topic area. To date, the IBM
Sustainability Accelerator has supported 15 global projects across
three active cohorts, focused on sustainable agriculture, clean
energy and water management. For more information:
https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator/
About United Nations Development Programme
UNDP works
in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate
poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so
countries can sustain progress. As the UN's development agency,
UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals.
CONTACT
Carmen San
Segundo
Global Communications Director, ESG and CSR
carmenssg@ibm.com
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