Enhancing Capacity for Climate Change Resilience in Nakuru, Kenya through AI-based Air Quality Monitoring
The goal of this project is to make Nakuru more resilient to the impacts of climate change. To achieve this, we are harnessing local expertise and engaging with the community to implement AI-driven tools for predicting and managing air pollution, which is increasingly being affected by climate change. This effort is aligned with Nakuru's own climate change regulations, Kenya's national climate strategies, and global sustainable energy and climate action plans.
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Central to our approach is a partnership that leverages the rich knowledge and skills of local and international experts. This includes data scientists, anthropologists and citizen science experts from KU Leuven, along with environmental scientists from Egerton University in Kenya. Collaborating closely with these academics are local stakeholders like Sensors.Africa, a Kenyan project under Code for Africa focusing on citizen science for environmental monitoring, the Kenya Meteorological Society, and Belgian experts in community engagement and data visualization. This collaborative framework is designed to ensure that the project is grounded in local realities while benefiting from international insights and technologies.
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The project is focused on several key objectives:
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Building Local Capacity: Enhancing the capabilities of the Nakuru Meteorological Department by incorporating sophisticated AI and data science techniques. This aims to bolster local expertise in predicting and analyzing air pollution linked to climate change, enhancing the department's ability to respond effectively.
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Informing Policy with Local Data: Working alongside local stakeholders to refine and broaden Nakuru's climate policies. The emphasis is on using accurate, locally sourced data and analyses to inform decisions, ensuring policies are relevant and effective for the region.
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Leveraging AI for Local Benefit: Fully utilizing AI technologies to develop strategies for adapting to the challenges posed by climate change, with a particular focus on air pollution. This includes raising public awareness about the links between climate change and air pollution, drawing on local examples and impacts.
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This initiative positions itself as a vital component of Nakuru's broader strategy to adapt to climate change, emphasizing the use of cutting-edge technology and data in a way that supports local decision-making and infrastructure development. By fostering community involvement and highlighting local knowledge and challenges, the project aims to protect public health and ensure a sustainable, resilient future for the people of Nakuru.
Project Leads
This project is led by a team of experts from KU Leuven, Belgium and Egerton University in Nakuru, Kenya