ANTALYA: Artificial intelligence took centre stage at the COP31 Business Forum on Friday, as two panel discussions under the banner “New Technologies” examined how AI can drive the green transformation and move climate technology from innovation to deployment. Muhammad Adnan, Chairman and Founder of the Global Climate Change Torch (GCCT), was present at the sessions in Antalya.
The sessions were held on Friday 13 November, the COP31 Finance and Trade Day, at the Antalya Expo Center. The COP31 Business Forum opened on 12 November, bringing together more than 600 chief executives and senior business leaders from nearly 300 organisations to accelerate private-sector action and investment in electrification, resilient cities and green industrialisation.
From innovation to deployment
The first session, “Climate Tech and AI: From Innovation to Deployment”, brought three panellists to the stage to discuss how climate technologies powered by artificial intelligence can move out of the laboratory and into real-world use. A panellist addressed the audience as the discussion focused on turning new ideas into working solutions for the climate.
AI as an engine of the green transformation
The second session, “AI as an Engine of the Green Transformation”, gathered six panellists before a full audience in the forum hall. The discussion examined how artificial intelligence can help forecast renewable energy output, balance electricity grids, cut waste and support the shift to low-carbon economies.
AI’s double role: enabler and energy user
The discussions also reflected the other side of the AI question: the technology itself consumes large amounts of energy. The International Energy Agency estimates that data centres used about 415 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024, a figure expected to more than double by 2030. The COP31 Presidency’s Antalya AI Pledge invites businesses to make voluntary commitments on sustainable AI, including disclosing energy data and powering data centres with clean energy.
GCCT president present
Muhammad Adnan, Chairman and Founder of the Global Climate Change Torch (GCCT) and Climate News Editor at Watan News International, attended both sessions. He followed the discussions from the audience. GCCT is presenting its artificial intelligence project for climate action at COP31, and Adnan is leading the GCCT delegation at COP31.
Finance and Trade Day
The sessions took place on the COP31 Finance and Trade Day, dedicated to green transformation, climate-based investment, green finance, value chains and carbon markets. The COP31 Business Forum ran on 12 and 13 November in the Blue Zone of the Antalya Expo Center.
