Japanese IT firm NEC has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support conservation efforts and mitigate climate change impacts using artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies.. – Getty Images. According to the partners, the agreement will combine UNDP’s development assistance knowledge and global networks with NEC’s digital technologies, including AI, to support conservation and restoration of the natural environment and the development of sustainable local communities..
Beyond addressing environmental challenges through digital technologies, the two organizations will also conduct assessments and studies to improve the resilience of AI and digital infrastructure, along with local communities, using environmental data.. “Artificial intelligence can help address climate and environmental challenges, but developing countries need support to use it sustainably. By combining the United Nations Development Programme’s expertise and country presence with NEC Corporation’s technology, this partnership will bring solutions closer to communities and scale local impact,” said Marcos Neto, UN assistant secretary-general and director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support..
The MoU will aim to foster cooperation across five key areas.. These include creating and sharing knowledge on assessing and improving the resilience of AI, digital infrastructure, and local communities based on environmental data. The examination of digital solutions that support nature-positive and climate-resilient development.
The exploration of approaches to build sustainable and resilient international supply chains for Japanese companies, including NEC, through collaboration with local communities. The joint dissemination of information on digital technologies that support biodiversity conservation and climate action, and the maintenance of ongoing dialogue to identify further areas of collaboration..
“By combining UNDP’s knowledge and networks with NEC’s practical expertise, technologies, and business foundation, we will create new value and contribute to realizing a sustainable, nature-positive, and climate-resilient society,” said Shinichiro Ide, corporate SVP, CBXO and head of the business process transformation unit at NEC.. The companies said that, as an initial step, they will jointly prepare and publish a white paper assessing the resilience of AI and digital infrastructure, including data centers, along with supply chains and surrounding communities, based on environmental data.
The partners also said that they would discuss potential collaboration through workshops on data-driven agriculture using NEC’s CropScope platform, aimed at supporting climate adaptation for coffee farmers in Ethiopia.. More in Sustainability. 19 Aug 2026.
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