The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation to promote sustainable development and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on climate action and evidence-based policymaking.
The agreement was formalized in Dubai on the sidelines of the 2025 World Governments Summit convening under the theme of 'Shaping Future Governments', with Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of UICCA, and Dr. Abdallah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director for Arab States, signing on behalf of their respective organizations.
Her Highness Sheikha Shamma stated: “The UAE’s vision for a Net Zero future demands bold, data-driven solutions that can accelerate climate action at scale. Artificial intelligence and digital innovation offer unparalleled opportunities to enhance decision-making, optimize resource efficiency, and drive impactful climate policies. Through this collaboration with UNDP, we aim to leverage AI-driven insights to empower policymakers, researchers, and communities, ensuring that technological advancements directly contribute to the UAE’s sustainability agenda and the broader global transition to a low-carbon future.”
“Through this new partnership with the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators we aim to promote the use of advanced research and digital solutions to strengthen climate resilience, drive innovation for climate action and accelerate progress toward the SDGs, in the Arab region and beyond,” said Al Dardari. “We are guided by a shared commitment to the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence to develop solutions, accelerate progress and raise the level of ambition of action that is critical for remaining on track to achieve the vision of peace, prosperity and sustainability embedded in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.”
Promoting AI-driven innovation, expanding access to digital learning, and supporting evidence-based research, the new partnership aims to provide policymakers, researchers, and communities with the tools they need to effectively address climate concerns through the integration of AI and digital tools into climate resilience efforts — ensuring that digital transformation and AI applications make meaningful contributions to the sustainable development goals and long-term environmental resilience, promoting inclusive knowledge-sharing platforms, and the development of effective policy responses.
