AI for weather and climate preparedness: From European vision to real-world impact

Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world. The 2024 State of the Climate report revealed that tens of millions of Europeans have already faced severe impacts from extreme weather – in both cities and rural areas. Preparing for and adapting to climate change is not only urgent, it is essential.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are now playing a central role in helping Europe tackle these challenges. The European Commission is advancing several flagship initiatives – including Destination Earth (DestinE), AI Factories, EuroHPC and national programmes – to strengthen climate preparedness, resilience and digital sovereignty.

Against this backdrop, ECMWFEuropean Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts More is hosting a high-level public conference in Brussels on 2 October 2025. The half-day event will highlight the latest advances in AI and explore its role in building Europe’s resilience to climate change and extreme weather events.

Who should attend

The conference is particularly relevant for:

• policymakers shaping digital strategy and climate adaptation;

• representatives of European, national and regional public institutions responsible for responding to climate impacts;

• researchers advancing AI, climate science and Earth system modelling;

• industry representatives developing climate technology solutions;

• technology innovators applying AI for environmental benefit.

Programme (preliminary)

14.00 Welcome and introduction

14.05 Orientation video: What is Destination Earth?

14.10 Opening remarks: Europe’s digital and AI strategy for resilience

• Grazyna Piesiewicz, Head of Unit, DG CNECT, European Commission

14.20 Building Europe’s AI ecosystem for real-world impact – Panel discussion

• Anna Dimitrijevics, Deputy head of unit adaptation and resilience to climate change, DG CNECT/DG CLIMA

• Cristian Canton, Associate Director, Barcelona Supercomputing Centre

• Petteri Taalas, Director-General, Finnish Meteorological Institute

• Monique Kuglitsch, Innovation Manager, Fraunhofer HHI

• Moderated by Simon Pickard, Network Director, Science|Business

15.00 Spotlight: AI in action for weather, climate and modelling – Panel discussion

• Sara Hahner, Scientist for Machine LearningField of statistical research focused on training computatio More, ECMWFEuropean Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts More

• Eva Prieto, Climate Change Specialist, Predictia

• Lene Østvand, Researcher, MET Norway

• Chaired by Marianne Thyrring, Director-General, Danish Meteorological Institute

15.30 Coffee break

16.00 From ideas to implementation: maturing Europe’s AI capability – Panel discussion

• Irina Sandu, Director, Destination Earth, ECMWFEuropean Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts More

• Maarten van Aalst, Director-General, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute

• Ana Oliveira, Chief Technology Officer, +Atlantic

• Erwan Marteil, Head of Unit Prevention and Preparedness Capacity Building, EU DG ECHO 
• Moderated by Simon Pickard, Network Director, Science|Business

16.45 Closing reflections: coordinating for European leadership – Fireside chat

• Grazyna Piesiewicz, Head of Unit, DG CNECT, European Commission

• Florian Pappenberger, Director-General Elect and Director, Forecasts and Services, ECMWFEuropean Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts More

• Jørn Kristiansen, Director, Development Centre for Weather Forecasting, MET Norway

• Moderated by Simon Pickard, Network Director, Science|Business

17.15 Networking reception

More information and Registration