Systemic enablers for climate-aligned artificial intelligence – workshop 14-16 April, 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform virtually every sector of contemporary economies, to reshape the organization of societies, and to redefine prevailing modes of production and consumption. Although increasing attention has been devoted to the material and energy demands associated with AI, particularly its consumption of electricity and natural resources, comparatively limited research addresses the strategic orientation of AI applications toward tasks, activities, and sectors that advance planetary sustainability goals. The “Systemic enabler for climate-aligned artificial intelligence” workshop seeks to examine the systemic barriers and enabling conditions that influence AI development and deployment to meet climate mitigation and adaptation targets. Adopting a multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder perspective, the workshop will invite participants to engage critically with three central questions: (i) What socio-economic, political, and governance tensions arise between digital and green policy agendas in Europe and beyond? (ii) Which actors contribute to the emergence and persistence of these obstacles, and through what mechanisms? (iii) What policy interventions and institutional designs are required to realign AI innovation with climate and sustainability imperatives?

The workshop will run from April 14th to April 16th with the goal to co-producing a white paper targeting European policymakers. Participants come from industry, civil society, academia and policy-making with strong involvement of Swedish research institutions as well. The social programme of the workshop includes the last screening of “The Material Cloud” film festival and a visit to the KTH Live-in Lab, where digital tools and societal goals meet.

Read more about the event here (digitalfutures.kth.se)