Tech Meets Climate Action at UN Climate Week 2025 in Panama

Dr. Letetia Addison represented The University of the West Indies at the 2025 Climate Week and LAC NDE Forum in Panama, hosted by United Nations Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) and Panama’s Ministry of Environment, where she contributed to key events advancing climate innovation, digital resilience and finance across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Photo above: Dr. Letetia Addison represents The UWI at the Climate Implementation Forum Technology Lab and Capacity Building Programme at the 2025 Climate Week and LAC NDE Forum in Panama.

🔹 As Keynote Speaker and Moderator at the AI Roundtable during the Climate Week Technology Implementation Labs, Dr. Addison led high-level discussions on the role of artificial intelligence in climate mitigation and adaptation within Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The session addressed pressing challenges such as funding gaps, data quality, and trust in AI systems, while exploring bold, inclusive solutions like regional AI innovation hubs, open-source collaboration, and successful national case studies from various LACs. She provided the keynote for the launch of this year’s AI for Climate Action Award 2025—an initiative to spotlight innovation at the intersection of AI and sustainability, following her team’s win at COP29 AI Innovation Challenge in 2024. See application link here: https://aica.awardsplatform.com/

Photo above: Dr. Letetia Addison engaged with participants in the Artificial Intelligence Roundtable session at the Climate Implementation Forum Technology Lab, Climate Week 2025 in Panama

🔹 In the Capacity Building Programme on Climate Finance for National Designated Entities (NDEs), Dr. Addison presented an overview of the award-winning AI4SIDS project, an AI-powered early warning system, currently under development with her UWI research team. The baseline model is anticipated to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with real-time alerts, AI-driven flood prediction, with room for funding and collaboration to promote the use of MRV-ready data to facilitate access to climate finance.
See more about the AI4SIDS Working Project here: https://climate.lab.tt/index.php/featured_projects/ai4sids/

Photo above: Dr. Letetia Addison delivering a keynote speech on AI for Climate Resilience during Day 4 of the Capacity Building Programme on Climate Finance for National Designated Entities (NDEs)

“It was truly inspiring to be part of such a dynamic and solutions-driven space at Climate Week 2025 in Panama—where technology, collaboration, and most importantly, the people leading solutions for vulnerable communities came together to drive real conversations on climate action that truly work for our diverse region and beyond. My UWI team and I look forward to continuing our contribution to meaningful digital solutions that enhance and empower regional resilience.” — Dr. Letetia Addison

Dr. Addison’s participation spotlighted The UWI’s leadership in climate-tech research and its commitment to building smart, inclusive and scalable solutions for vulnerable regions.

Photo above: End of Day 4 – Capacity Building Programme on Climate Finance for National Designated Entities (NDEs)