Shillong, Feb 20: Leading experts, policymakers, and researchers from India and the UK convened at the two-day UK-India Knowledge Exchange Workshop on AI-Based Climate Modelling Centre and Policy Making on Thursday.
Organized by the British High Commission in collaboration with IIM Shillong and the Government of Meghalaya, the 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, Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East & North East India stated, “ The event 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.
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, 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 North East 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.
