UK-India Knowledge Exchange Workshop on AI-Based Climate Modelling & Policy Making
The UK-India Knowledge Exchange Workshop on AI-Based Climate Modelling Centre and Policy Making, organized by the British High Commission in collaboration with IIM Shillong and the Government of Meghalaya, convened leading experts, policymakers, and researchers from India and the UK. The two-day event served as a platform to explore AI-driven solutions aimed at addressing critical climate challenges and enhancing policy frameworks for sustainable environmental management.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East & Northeast India, stated that “this UK-India Knowledge Exchange on AI driven Climate
Modelling Centre and Policy Making marks a significant step in strengthening Meghalaya’s climate action by combining UK expertise to advance climate science with India’s deep
regional knowledge, we can co-develop innovative solutions to protect communities and drive a net zero future.
This collaboration sets a powerful precedent for future ”partnerships in Climate Innovations and sustainability.
With participation from leading institutions such as the UK Met Office, University College London, University of Leeds, University of Oxford, the workshop reinforced a shared
commitment to leveraging AI-driven solutions for climate adaptation.
Speaking at the event, Prof. D P Goyal, Director of IIM Shillong, reiterated that AI would
enhance climate modelling with precise data and simulations, aiding in sustainable initiatives
such as water conservation, energy distribution, and resource optimization. Prof. Teidor
Lyngdoh, Chair External Relations, IIM Shillong, welcomed the dignitaries and emphasized
the importance of translating discussions into tangible outcomes. He stressed that
engagements with UK representatives reinforced the urgency of achieving measurable
results, setting the stage for transformative AI-driven climate solutions within the coming
months.
Mr. Joshua Bamford, Head of Tech and Innovation Team, British High Commission India,
elaborated on the UK-India Technology Security Initiative, which spans multiple sectors,
including AI, with both governments committed to establishing a UK-India Joint Centre for
AI focused on climate, sustainability, finance, cybersecurity, and healthcare. The workshop
marked a significant step in realizing the climate pillar of this initiative.
Dr. Albert Chiang, Officer on Special Duty, Meghalaya Basin Development Authority,
underscored the fragility of Meghalaya’s ecosystem due to erratic rainfall and watershed
degradation. He acknowledged the timely intervention of the UK government in climate
policy mitigation and stressed that AI-driven localized data analysis would play a critical role
in developing an actionable roadmap. He emphasized that collaboration with local
communities would be key to the initiative’s success.
Expressing her gratitude, Ms. Haimanti Poddar, Senior Climate and Energy Adviser,
UKFCDO, Kolkata, recalled how this initiative began in July 2024 as a preliminary exchange
of ideas and has since evolved into an impactful workshop with participation from key global
stakeholders at IIM Shillong.
The workshop featured in-depth technical sessions on climate issues in Northeast India, UK
best practices in AI-driven climate modeling, and Indian innovations in climate modeling.
Experts from institutions such as the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change
Govt of India and Ministry of Earth Sciences Govt of India, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, CUSAT,
Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, NLU Meghalaya, Meghalaya Technology Park
Society and others shared insights
