AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge
The AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge, or simply The Grand Challenge, is a project of the Bezos Earth Fund launched in April 2024 to promote the use of artificial intelligence to address climate change and loss of natural lands. 1 The Challenge is expected to last over a three-year period with several phases to provide grant proposals for nonprofits and academic institutions. 2
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Background
The AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge, or simply The Grand Challenge, is a multi-year project of the Bezos Earth Fund. Launched in 2024 with a $100 million investment from Bezos Earth Fund, the organization intends to provide grants to applicants and proposals for combatting climate change through using AI technology. 1
Activities
The Grand Challenge developed a series of phases in which eligible organizations and groups would be able to provide proposals: these include U.S-based nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private companies. The first phase accepted proposals through July 30, in which 30 grants would be awarded, each worth $50,000. Proposals for this phase included advocacy in “biodiversity, conservation, advancing sustainable proteins, and power grid optimization.” 2 The Bezos Earth Fund also noted the inclusion of a “Wild Card” category for alternate proposals including “utilizing vision and sound recognition to find new animal species.” 1
The second phase, according to the Bezos Earth Fund, will have participants collaborate with AI experts over a six-week period to continue developing their proposals for a judging panel. According to the group, the intention is to assist in developing accepted proposals over a series of two years while implementation grants of up to $2 million would be awarded to selected proposals by early 2025. 3 The final phase will have awardees from the first two phases implement their proposals over a two-year period through provided resources and grants by the Challenge. In addition, those awarded would participate in a “AI for Climate and Nature” summit in 2025. According to the Bezos Earth Fund, it will provide further information on potential new phases of the Challenge in the future. 4