IBM has launched five new projects to strengthen urban resilience. This is part of its global social impact initiative called the IBM Sustainability Accelerator. The company has issued a new request for proposals (RFP). This is for projects focused on “AI for Sustainable Consumption and Production.” It aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (RFPRFP) 9 and 12.
In early 2024, IBM launched an RFP. This aims to create safer, more resilient, and sustainable cities. It aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11. Five organizations were chosen from more than 100 applications. They will work with IBM experts to use AI solutions for important urban challenges. These organizations were chosen because they actively engage with their communities. They also use AI in new ways to boost urban resilience.
Selected Organizations and Their AI Initiatives:
C40 Cities
C40 Cities is a global group of almost 100 mayors from big cities. They are teaming up with IBM to create an AI tool. This tool will help analyze risks from heatwaves and urban heat islands. This initiative evaluates impacts such as energy strain, increased mortality, and social-economic gaps. The solution helps cities create plans to reduce health risks and economic burdens. It also supports national resilience efforts. The project is also supported by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and the Group on Earth Observations.
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
IBM is teaming up with the World Food Programme USA (WFP USA) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). WFP is the biggest humanitarian food aid group in the world. They aim to improve WFP’s geospatial tool, GeoTar, using advanced AI and data features. GeoTar helps create vulnerability maps. It also improves decision-making for targeting and prioritization. These improvements will help WFP country offices tackle food insecurity. This issue can get worse due to environmental disasters such as droughts, floods, and landslides.
Mass General Brigham
IBM is teaming up with Mass General Brigham, a nonprofit health system. They will create an AI tool for healthcare facilities dealing with extreme heat events. The tool predicts local heat events. It also finds high-risk patients and sends alerts when extreme heat is near. It will give patients resource information. It will also help clinicians with preventive care. The tool will first be tested at Mass General Brigham hospitals. It has security features to keep patient data safe. Only people within the health system can access this data.
Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy
IBM will work with the Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy. This nonprofit focuses on urban governance and public policy. Together, they will create a platform for urban data and analytics. The platform will use city-level data. This will help with smart governance and decision-making in India. The platform aims to boost urban services and sustainability. It will use environmental and socio-economic data to improve governance. It will also promote data standardization, transparency, and interoperability.
Kota Kita
Kota Kita is a nonprofit that promotes sustainable cities. They are partnering with IBM to create an AI model. This model will spot climate stress factors impacting the people of Samarinda, Indonesia. The model will assess physical vulnerabilities like natural hazards. It will also consider economic and social factors, such as population growth and access to clean water. The project helps build resilience and reduce community vulnerabilities.
IBM’s Commitment to Sustainability and Urban Resilience
The IBM Sustainability Accelerator uses IBM’s advanced technologies, like hybrid cloud and AI. It pairs these tools with expert support to boost the efforts of nonprofits and governments. This helps speed up economic benefits. The program has two phases. First, it uses IBM Garage, a method for digital transformation. Then, it moves to development and implementation. In this phase, IBM offers tech resources to meet project goals.
EY will help by running workshops and coaching sessions. This will boost efforts to build sustainable, fair, and strong cities.
So far, 20 organizations have joined the IBM Sustainability Accelerator. IBM has pledged $45 million until 2030 to tackle environmental issues around the globe. By the end of last year, IBM’s Sustainable Agriculture initiatives helped about 65,300 people. Its Clean Energy projects are expected to support another 1.1 million individuals. The Resilient Cities initiatives will help thousands more people around the world.
IBM is dedicated to using AI to help communities and organizations face important urban challenges. IBM uses technology to create sustainable and thriving environments for people and economies.
Organizations can submit new project proposals on “AI for Sustainable Consumption and Production.” Apply by April 30, 2025, on the official submission platform.
