18 NGOs tackling sustainability challenges in Asia-Pacific
The Asia-Pacific region is particularly vulnerable when it comes to the effects of climate change. Just last year, it was found that Asia has been warming faster than the global average — and that it was the region with the most weather and water-related hazards globally. But recent advances in artificial intelligence can help with mitigation and adaptation efforts, contributing to a more sustainable future for people across the Asia-Pacific. Many organizations, social investors and researchers are using AI to develop innovative solutions.
That's why the AVPN created the Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0, with the support of Google.org and the Asian Development Bank as the outreach partner. Now in its second year, the Fund is supporting 18 grant recipients who are using AI and cloud technologies to build their sustainability solutions.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the recipients’ projects:
Australia
Cool.org will focus on building a data-driven tool to help educators craft customized school curriculum on environmental, social and economic sustainability.
India
INREM Foundation will develop AI-enabled open digital solutions to help community representatives access data on water contamination.
CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)
CRDF will use machine learning and satellite imagery to make it easy to estimate how much carbon lakes can absorb.
Institute for Financial Management and Research (WELL Labs)
IFMR will unlock multiple foundational datasets and make them easily accessible, providing granular insights into water security challenges.
Gujarat Mahila Housing Sewa Trust
MHT will develop an AI-powered model to identify urban heat islands and suggest targeted community-centric solutions like cool roofs and routes.
Indonesia
YAKKUM Emergency Unit will create a water irrigation system using smart mist technology to improve access to water, particular for older farmers and farmers with disabilities.
Gringgo Indonesia Foundation will optimize waste collection to reduce landfill dependency and environmental pollution.
Perkumpulan Jaringan Pantau Gambut
Perkumpulan Jaringan Pantau Gambut aims to improve peatland monitoring and fire prevention in Indonesia through AI tools and advanced data visualization.
Japan
Social Innovation Japan’s community-driven, crowdsourced technology platform “mymizu” aims to accelerate the shift away from single-use plastics towards a circular economy.
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
IGES will expand their URBAN RIG technology, previously piloted in Thailand, to address Iriomote Island’s marine plastic waste issue in Japan.
Philippines
Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST)
ASSIST helps local communities and organizations gain the skills they need to create more sustainable solutions — whether that means technical training, or learning about disaster response.
University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation, Inc.
The University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation, Inc. will improve paratransit systems in developing countries by addressing fossil fuel dependence and poor energy efficiency in public transport operations.
New Zealand
Wildlife.Ai will develop the Wildlife Watcher, a smart camera trap that will offer a more accurate and efficient way to monitor wildlife by using AI for animal identification.
Singapore
Imagine H2O Asia will design and co-finance technology pilots that empower climate-vulnerable communities in South Asia and Southeast Asia to address groundwater contamination, ecosystem health and saltwater intrusion.
South Korea
Coalition for Our Common Future
Coalition for our Common Future works on carbon mitigation and adaptation projects, powering a platform that matches supply (tech and finance) with demand (carbon credits).
Thailand
Asian Institute of Technology will support a platform that integrates hotspot data from various satellite sources and calculates emissions based on these hotspots.
Sathira-Dhammasathan will address water management challenges in Bodhisattva Valley and support reforestation efforts through innovative water conservation solutions.
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
See “Japan” section above.
Vietnam
Vietnam Rural Industries Development and Research Institute (VIRI)
VIRI will develop seaweed farms along the coastal lines of Vietnam through high-technology seedlings production, regulated farming community and co-ops and co-operation from local authorities.
Read more about the APAC Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0 on the program’s website.
