Convened by the African Union and the Ethiopian Government, the Second Africa Climate Summit will provide a platform for policymakers, practitioners, businesses and civil society to advance Africa’s climate agenda and sustainable development priorities. IIASA Strategic Initiatives Program Director Steffen Fritz, will contribute his expertise to discussions at the event as part of a session titled, Leveraging AI to Build Climate Resilience and Adaptive Capacity.
Climate change is exposing communities, economies, and investments across Africa to escalating risk. The event is a key platform on the road to the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP30) for the continent to set out its priorities and commitments, advance home-grown solutions that drive adaptation and system-wide transformation, and catalyze bold financial and political commitments.
Strengthening partnerships with African institutions is a strategic priority for IIASA, particularly through its Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Member Organization (SSARMO). The Second Africa Climate Summit provides an ideal opportunity to advance this cooperation and turn research into action on the continent.
Fritz will speak on Wednesday, 10 September, during a session titled Leveraging AI to Build Climate Resilience and Adaptive Capacity. He will share insights from his extensive work at the intersection of Earth observation, land use, and agricultural systems, with a focus on how AI and citizen science can enhance data ecosystems for sustainability. His research has contributed to platforms such as Geo-Wiki, which harness crowdsourced data to improve global land cover and agricultural mapping. These innovations support more accurate assessments of land productivity, food security, and climate vulnerability, helping inform policy and investment decisions at national and international levels.
IIASA engages with its Ethiopian partners through SSARMO, represented by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MiNT). Earlier this year, IIASA co-hosted a virtual workshop with MiNT and the National Research Foundation of South Africa to explore research and innovation opportunities aligned with Ethiopia’s strategic development goals, including climate change, food security, and sustainable energy. The event laid the groundwork for deeper collaboration and led to the signing of a Letter of Intent, formalizing IIASA’s commitment to strengthening engagement with SSARMO and advancing joint initiatives across the region. Further reinforcing this commitment, Fritz met with the State Minister of MiNT on the margins of the Summit on 9 September to discuss opportunities for future collaborations.
Visit the Second Africa Climate Summit website to find out more.
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