On 11 December 2017, at the One Planet Summit in Paris, Microsoft announced our $50m, five-year commitment to using AI to improve sustainability, known as AI for Earth. In the past year, the program has grown to support 233 grantees doing work with impact in more than 50 countries and all seven continents. We have also seen the science, from the IPCC and others, that indicate progress is still too slow and uneven to achieve a 2-degree future agreed to in the Paris Accord. Below, you'll see our vision for the program and in following pieces, you'll see how we're continuing to accelerate our efforts. On the two-year anniversary of the Paris climate accord, the world's political, civic and business leaders came together in Paris to discuss one of the most important issues and opportunities of our time: climate change.

As announced by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technology (ICT), its annual AI for Good Global Summit has successfully generated thirty-five innovative project proposals leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) for good. "Leveraging the power of ICTs, including artificial intelligence, is imperative if we are to improve the livelihoods of all people, everywhere, through achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals," said ITU Secretary-General Mr Houlin Zhao. "This year, we hope to spur action to ensure that artificial intelligence accelerates progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Mr Zhao said in his welcoming remarks. "Already, AI solutions are being developed to help increase crop yields, manage natural disasters, reduce road congestion, or diagnose heart, eye, and blood disorders." The summit gathered AI innovators with public and private-sector decision-makers, creating collaboration opportunities to execute the AI for Good project proposals in the near and medium terms.

On the two-year anniversary of the Paris climate accord, the world's government, civic and business leaders are coming together in Paris to discuss one of the most important issues and opportunities of our time, climate change. I'm excited to lead the Microsoft delegation at these meetings. While the experts' warnings are dire, at Microsoft we believe technology advances can help us better understand and address the environmental issues facing our planet. That's why we're announcing in Paris that we are broadening our AI for Earth program with an expanded strategic plan and committing $50 million over the next five years to put artificial intelligence technology in the hands of individuals and organizations around the world who are working to protect our planet. At Microsoft, we believe artificial intelligence is a game changer.