New Delhi: Climate change is a pressing reality today, that affects practically every aspect of life and livelihood. As climate risks grow, proactive solutions are needed for adaptation and mitigation. India has made significant progress in this regard, increasing green cover, harnessing renewable energy, reducing emissions, addressing the challenge of extreme weather. In recent years Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool that helps in this fight against climate change. Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables computers to learn from data and make decisions or predictions, much like humans do. Deep learning is a method within AI that helps computers learn better by analysing large amounts of information. When applied to climate studies, AI systems analyse climate related data and provide solutions for improved climate modeling, optimized renewable energy generation, solutions for sustainable agriculture, and enhanced disaster resilience.
Recognizing AI’s critical role in driving inclusive development, the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is being held from February 16–20 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It is the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South. Built on three foundational pillars-People, Planet, and Progress, the summit focuses on AI’s transformative potential across governance, innovation, and sustainable development. Advanced technology is reshaping how we predict weather patterns and prepare for natural disasters.
Forecasting System:
India significantly enhanced its cyclone forecasting capacity through AI-assisted tools. Advanced Dvorak Technique is being used by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and other government institutions to estimate cyclone intensity. IMD uses satellite-based AI tools to monitor tropical cyclones. The Advanced Dvorak Technique helps estimate intensity of cyclones. IMD also uses AI-based guidance from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting. These tools help predict when cyclones will form, where they will go, and how strong they will become.
High-Power Computing Systems with 22 PetaFLOPS capacity have been installed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. About 10% of this system uses special Graphics Processing Units for AI work. There are also separate GPUs dedicated only to AI and machine learning research in weather forecasting. These systems help develop better weather prediction models.
Landslide, Flood and Glacial Monitoring
AI-driven early warning systems are also operational in vulnerable regions. An indigenous AI-based landslide early warning system provides alerts up to three hours before slope failures in Himalayan regions. The system uses low-cost sensors measuring soil moisture, rainfall, humidity, temperature, and ground displacement. Data feeds into a machine learning model with over 90% accuracy. Installed at more than 60 sites across Himachal Pradesh, it detects millimetre-level slope movements. Built with locally sourced components at a fraction of imported technology costs, the system strengthens disaster preparedness. It enables timely evacuations in India’s landslide-prone areas.
Indian Land Data Assimilation System (ILDAS), funded by ISRO (2021-24), estimates land surface states and floodplain inundation using coupled models and remote sensing data. Flood forecasting systems, integrating physics-based modelling and AI techniques improve river basin management in the Ganga and Brahmaputra regions. BrahmaSATARK provides impact-based flood forecasts for the Brahmaputra Basin, while GBM-CLIMPACT is a climate-impact toolbox assessing water sector readiness in the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna basins.
Together, these AI-enabled systems enhance early warning lead times, strengthen evacuation planning, reduce infrastructure losses, and safeguard vulnerable communities across climate-sensitive regions.
AI-Powered Grassroots Governance Solutions
India is advancing as a global leader in AI-driven climate solutions. The country has made institutional innovations and strong multilateral partnerships. India now provides village-level weather forecasts. These forecasts reach nearly every panchayat. The indigenous Bharat Forecasting System offers 6km resolution predictions. This democratizes climate information access across the country.The country has invested substantially in AI infrastructure. This includes 22 PetaFLOPS computing capacity. These investments show India’s commitment to innovation and international cooperation. India is working towards its net-zero emissions goal by 2070. AI-powered solutions help in many areas. These include renewable energy optimization, sustainable agriculture, and disaster prediction. These are not just technological achievements. They are essential tools for building climate resilience. India is proving that AI can be a powerful tool in fighting climate change. This is especially important for vulnerable communities in the Global South.
