Indiaspora’s sixth Virtual Annual Climate Summit, held April 16–17, 2026, brought together global leaders from technology, policy, academia, business, and civil society to explore one of the most pressing questions of our time: Can artificial intelligence be truly net positive for the planet?
As AI systems expand rapidly, they are creating both unprecedented opportunities for climate solutions and new environmental pressures through increased energy demand, infrastructure growth, and resource use. To ensure a truly global conversation, the summit was held in two convenings, Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere sessions, bringing together leaders from regions including India, the UAE, Singapore, Australia, the United States, Europe, Canada, and beyond.
The summit opened with a keynote by Arun Majumdar, Dean of the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University, who delved into what many are calling the “true cost of intelligence,” unpacking the growing energy demands of AI systems and the tension between rapid technological advancement and environmental sustainability.
A panel led by Suriya Jayanti brought together voices like Varun Sivaram and Jigar Shah to examine whether innovation can keep pace with the rising energy appetite of AI. A fireside chat featuring Auroop Ganguly and Sachin Kumar offered a more grounded look at AI’s real-world climate impact, weighing breakthroughs such as predictive climate models and optimization tools against their current limitations.
A panel moderated by Amol Phadke explored how climate-positive AI can be built at scale, bringing together industry leaders from Meta and ENGIE along with startup founders to discuss infrastructure, deployment, and innovation challenges. The event also featured insights from Nir Kumar of Dalberg, who presented findings on the AI–climate nexus, offering a data-driven look at how these two powerful forces intersect.
The summit closed with a keynote by Ashish Khanna, Director General of the International Solar Alliance, focusing on how to scale climate solutions globally and translate innovation into measurable impact.
Other speakers included Shalu Agrawal of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water; Miniya Chatterji, CEO of Sustain Labs Paris; Dhireesha Kudithipudi, Robert F. McDermott Chair in Engineering; Mridula Ramesh, Founder of the Sundaram Climate Institute; and former Union Cabinet Minister Suresh Prabhu. Since 2021, Indiaspora’s annual climate summits have convened global leaders for meaningful climate dialogue on far-ranging topics across professions, industries, and walks of life.
