Klarna, a global digital bank and payments provider, has launched its AI for Climate Resilience Program, an initiative designed to leverage artificial intelligence in strengthening climate adaptation and community resilience in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.
The program is a global effort by Klarna to accelerate the use of AI in addressing the localized effects of climate change. It identifies and supports innovators developing practical AI solutions for communities most exposed to climate risks, with the aim of scaling pilot ideas into functional tools for adaptation and resilience.
David Sandström, CMO at Klarna, stated, “AI has transformed how people make financial decisions, and we believe it can do the same for climate adaptation. Through this program, we’re empowering innovators to interpret complex environmental data and turn it into locally relevant solutions for challenges like food and water security, public health, and disaster preparedness.” Klarna will provide each selected organization with tailored mentoring, technical, and strategic support over 18 months, alongside funding. This support aims to help scale their solutions responsibly, allowing participants to utilize Klarna’s experience in applying AI and responsible technology, an area where Klarna has spent the last two years integrating AI across its operations.
An independent advisory group comprising AI and sustainability experts selected six projects that demonstrate responsible and high-impact AI applications for climate resilience.
Among the selected innovators, SEEDS (India) uses AI and satellite data to rapidly verify disaster losses, facilitating quicker and fairer relief for affected families. Acres of Ice (Global) applies AI to convert excess winter water into man-made glaciers, providing essential irrigation for mountain farmers as temperatures rise. Geotek Water Solutions (Nigeria) utilizes AI to locate and monitor hidden water sources in drought-prone regions, helping vulnerable communities secure clean water.
Additionally, the Self-Employed Women’s Association & IFPRI (India) empowers women workers with an AI-powered advisor that delivers localized weather insights directly to their phones, supporting safety, livelihoods, and community climate resilience. The Sakawarga Foundation (Indonesia) employs an AI “resilience coach” to train villages in disaster preparedness through local-language chats accessible on any phone. GainForest e.
V. (Latin America) uses AI to assist Indigenous forest guardians in mapping and monitoring biodiversity, thereby strengthening local conservation efforts. These innovations highlight a growing global trend towards AI solutions rooted in local contexts, with potential to drive inclusive, community-led change.
Following a global call for proposals earlier this year, the AI for Impact program received over 1,200 applications from innovators worldwide. Significant participation came from emerging tech hubs in East and West Africa, India, and Latin America, indicating a rapidly expanding ecosystem of purpose-driven AI innovation. Submissions covered various use cases, with climate-smart agriculture and early-warning systems being the most frequent themes. This momentum is partly driven by increased access to AI-powered satellite imagery and local sensor data. Water and health security were also prominent, showcasing practical applications of AI in resilience planning, particularly through tools that map future climate risks. Projects leveraging generative AI voice tools often utilized Natural Language Processing models, enabling tailored guidance at scale to reach even remote communities.
Rachel Adams, PhD, Founder and CEO of the Global Centre on AI Governance in South Africa, commented, “This initiative is a powerful example of how AI can serve communities on the climate frontlines. It raises the profile and capacity of organizations using technology to tackle climate adaptation where it’s needed most.”
This initiative expands Klarna’s AI capabilities for social and environmental benefit, building on its existing commitment to sustainability through its Climate and Nature Transformation Funds. In collaboration with The Climate Collective, Klarna has supported fifteen impact organizations in adopting AI for climate innovation and has allocated over USD 24 million to more than 100 climate and nature projects globally since 2021.
The independent advisory group members included Anna Lerner-Nesbitt (CEO, Climate Collective), Victor Galaz (Deputy Director, Stockholm Resilience Center), Beth Tellman (Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, FloodBase), Lisa Schipper (Professor of Development Geography, University of Bonn), Rachel Adams (CEO and founder, Global Center for AI Governance), Meena Palaniappan (Founder and CEO, Atma Connect), Alexander Farsan (Klarna – Observer), Anna Samuelsson (Milkywire), and Sholto West (Milkywire).
