Workshop 2 - Mapping and Dissemination of Research on Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Sustainability

ABOUT

The project "Digital Technologies and Environmental Sustainability in Brazil” is carried out by Cetic.br | NIC.br and supported by the UK Government under the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) - Digital Access Programme (DAP)

Among the outcomes of the projet are the Workshop Series “Mapping and Dissemination of Research on Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Sustainability.” This initiative aims to map and disseminate research on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in support of environmental sustainability, while also addressing and mitigating the risks associated with its adoption. It places particular emphasis on fostering knowledge exchange and identifying research priorities among leading AI research centres in Brazil and the United Kingdom.

Participants are expected to:
⦁    Share their institutional research agendas and concrete examples of work at the intersection of AI and environmental sustainability;
⦁    Map existing gaps and future research directions in the field;
⦁    Contribute to building research networks that enable future collaboration.

The first in-person workshop took place in London, UK, on 8–9 June 2026 [more information here]. The second workshop will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 1–2 September 2026.

CONTEXT

Digital technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), offer significant potential to accelerate evidence-based decision-making, support decarbonisation strategies, and strengthen climate resilience efforts, making them essential assets in addressing the climate emergency. However, the availability of reliable evidence and robust indicators to assess the environmental footprint of AI remains limited. This gap is largely attributed to fragmented and inconsistent measurement practices across the AI lifecycle, including training, inference, and supply chains, a challenge that is even more pronounced in countries of the Global South.

At the same time, the inclusive and equitable dissemination of digital and AI-enabled technologies depends on the presence of key enabling conditions, such as universal and meaningful connectivity. This is particularly relevant in regions of high strategic importance for climate action, such as the Amazon region, where digital divides risk constraining the adoption and impact of technology-based environmental solutions. In summary, the project aims to expand and systematize the evidence base required to inform public policy and strategic decision-making, while enhancing the visibility and scalability of AI applications that contribute to environmental sustainability, with a particular focus on addressing measurement gaps and contextual challenges in Brazil.

Program

Tuesday, 01 September

09:00 - 09:30

Registration and Reception

09:30 - 10:00

Opening Remarks and Introductions

  • Alessandra Lustrati (FCDO-DAP, United Kingdom)
  • Alexandre Fernandes Barbosa (Cetic.br|NIC.br, Brazil)
10:00 - 10:15

Project Update and Expected Outcomes

  • Alexandre Barbosa (Cetic.br|NIC.br, Brazil) Moderator
  • Fábio Senne (Cetic.br|NIC.br, Brazil)
  • Flora Ariza (University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil)
10:15 - 10:45

Keynote I: Training the Next Generation of Researchers to Tackle Environmental Challenges with AI

  • Philip Stier (Oxford Intelligent Earth, United Kingdom) Keynote
  • Letícia Hungria (FCDO-DAP, United Kingdom) Moderator
10:45 - 12:00

Panel I: AI and Environmental Sustainability: Measuring What Matters

The panel will explore how the digital sector can effectively measure, manage, and reduce its environmental footprint in the era of artificial intelligence. Building on recent international reports and standards, the discussion will examine emerging methodologies for assessing AI's energy use and emissions, approaches for measuring the ICT sector's overall environmental impact, and the role of sustainable data center design in enabling greener digital transformation.

  • Vanessa Gray (ITU, Geneva) Keynote
  • Alexandre Barbosa (Cetic.br|NIC.br, Brazil) Moderator
  • Ana Beatriz Rodrigues de Souza (Anatel, Brazil)
  • Diogo Moyses (ITU, Brazil)
12:00 - 13:00

Lunch Break

13:00 - 14:30

Panel II: AI and Environmental Sustainability: Emerging Trends and Perspectives

This panel will explore emerging research trends, initiatives, and capacity-building efforts at the intersection of AI and environmental sustainability, complementing the mapping undertaken by the project to date. By bringing together different perspectives and approaches, the discussion will identify relevant research agendas, methodologies, and areas of expertise that can broaden and strengthen the project’s analytical framework and inform the development of its Draft Report.

  • Julia Wolff (FCDO-DAP, United Kingdom) Moderator
  • Cláudio Fabiano Motta Toledo (SENAI-CIMATEC, Brazil)
  • Cleber Zanchettin (INCTS Instituto Nacional de Inteligência Artificial - UFPE, Brazil)
  • Jedrzej Niklas (Centre for the Future of Intelligence - University of Cambridge, United Kingdom)
  • Joseph Walton (Sustainable AI Futures - University of Sussex, United Kingdom)
14:30 - 16:45

Working Group Session: Draft Report Review

Through a collaborative group exercise, participants will provide feedback on the Draft Report of the project "Mapping and Dissemination of Research on Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Sustainability", shared by Cetic.br|NIC.br. Participants will be invited to provide inputs to the report, identify opportunities for improvement, and suggest additional perspectives, evidence, and topics that could strengthen and complement the document, in particular regarding policy recommendations.

  • Fábio Senne (Cetic.br|NIC.br, Brazil) Moderator
  • Flora Ariza (University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil) Moderator
16:45 - 17:00

Closing

Wednesday, 02 September

09:00 - 09:30

Registration and Reception

09:30 - 10:45

Panel III: Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Policy: Applications and Opportunities

This panel will explore concrete and emerging applications of artificial intelligence in the public sector, with a particular focus on strategic areas related to sustainability. The discussion will examine how AI can contribute to more energy-efficient climate modeling, as well as techniques for reducing the size and computational demands of training datasets, helping lower the energy consumption and environmental footprint of AI systems.

  • Cristina Shimoda (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Brazil) Moderator
  • Alexandre Freire (Commissioner and Vice President of National Telecommunication Agency – Anatel, Brazil)
  • Fabio André Machado Porto (National Laboratory for Scientific Computing – LNCC, Brazil)
  • Tom Parry (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, United Kingdom)
10:45 - 11:45

Next Steps: From Mapping to Sustainable Cooperation

Through an open and interactive discussion, participants will explore future opportunities for Brazil–UK research collaboration at the intersection of AI and sustainability. The session aims to identify and articulate concrete avenues for cooperation, while fostering sustained exchange and long-term partnerships between researchers and institutions in both countries.

  • Alexandre Barbosa (Cetic.br|NIC.br, Brazil) Moderator
  • Paulo Nobre (INPE|JSC - WCRP, Brazil)
11:45 - 12:00

Closing

  • Alexandre Barbosa (Cetic.br|NIC.br, Brazil)
  • Sarah Clegg (Deputy Consul-General and Minister Counsellor, British Consulate in São Paulo, United Kingdom)

Venue

Brazilian Network Information Center – NIC.br

Av. das Nações Unidas, 11.541 - 4th floor - São Paulo, SP/Brazil

List of suggested hotels nearby the event venue: https://nic.br/eventos/hotels/.

Subway and Train

The train station that is closest to the meeting venue is Berrini, that’s part of Line 9 (Emerald). The Line 9 has access to Subway Line 4 (Yellow) in Pinheiros Station, and to Subway Line 5 (Lilac) in Santo Amaro Station.

Bus

SPTrans is responsible for the bus lines in the city (https://www.sptrans.com.br/). Their website is only in portuguese, but their bus lines schedule database is integrated into Google Maps, so you can easily query the best bus lines for a given route.

CPTM Official Website (only in portuguese): https://www.cptm.sp.gov.br/

Subway Official Website: http://www.metro.sp.gov.br/

Useful information

Vaccination against yellow fever is recommended for international travellers visiting any area in the state of São Paulo. Please check your country’s legislation before travelling.

Additionally, please refer to: https://www.who.int/countries/bra/en/.

The visa is the document granted by Consular Representations of Brazil abroad that allows the expectation of admission and stay of foreigners in the national territory, provided that the conditions established by law have been met.

To apply for a visa, foreigners must submit the visa application form duly completed, a valid travel document, proof of payment of consular fees, International Certificate of Immunization – when necessary –, and other specific documents for the type of visa requested. For more details, go to: https://www.gov.br/mre/en?set_language=en.

More information about the city of São Paulo is available at: https://cidadedesaopaulo.com/?lang=en.


Event location map

For more information

Previous Editions