Steering the digital frontier: R&I TWG consultation and discussion on digitalisation and AI for City Climate Action

Cities are generating ever‑greater streams of climate‑relevant data and could seize the opportunity of AI to develop sound, suitable local climate policies. Yet, many municipal actors lack clear guidance on how to harness AI responsibly and effectively in their climate action journey. This consultative forum aims to identify specific needs, opportunities, and barriers cities encounter using AI and digital tools in their green transition, contributing to addressing critical knowledge gaps identified in the updated Global Research and Action Agenda (GRAA).

Framed within the GCoM (R+I TWG) and building upon the experience from the AI x City Climate Action Hackathons, this session moves from experimental examples toward systemic, evidence-based integration. Through the high involvement of participants from different backgrounds, fields, and roles, the session will debate how digital tools and AI can support local climate action while being inclusive and ethically governed, directly informing TWG action and strategy. By synthesizing actionable recommendations, the facilitators will define a roadmap for the R&I TWG to support future city action.