International Business Machines (IBM) has announced that it will contribute $30 million in services to projects addressing environmental challenges including climate change.
The firm made this announcement at the COP27 conference while announcing the new members of its global pro bono social impact program, the IBM Sustainability Accelerator.
According to the firm, the programme applied its technologies to enhance and scale projects focused on populations vulnerable to environmental threats, including climate change, adding that all its new members would focus on accelerating clean energy projects.
IBM had previously announced it planned to select five organizations for the programme each year and expected to provide $30m worth of services by the end of 2023.
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The Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and ESG at IBM, Justina Nixon-Saintil, said, “With the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, we are convening experts and using innovative technologies to help tackle the toughest environmental challenges our planet faces; and transitioning to clean energy is a critical step right now.
“With this new cohort, helping marginalized communities get just and equitable access to sustainable energy resources not only helps the world achieve the goal of UN SDG7 but can help in the larger global energy transition.”
IBM revealed that it evaluated more than 100 submissions from around the world before selecting the new members of its clean energy cohort.
It stated, “United Nations Development Programme: UNDP is working with IBM to increase access to sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy in African countries, focusing on those furthest left behind. The goal is to forecast electricity access to better guide policy and investment decisions, using UNDP’s technical knowledge and IBM’s artificial intelligence and geospatial analytics.”
Story was adapted from Punch.
