The two sides of AI: AI for resilience or resilience from AI
18. June 11:15 - 12:30
Room 1
Cities are at the forefront of both deploying and navigating with artificial intelligence (AI). This session explores the dual nature of AI in urban climate action: as a powerful enabler of resilience, helping cities address climate vulnerability, tackle energy poverty, and strengthen adaptive capacity, and as a source of new systemic risks that must be governed responsibly.
Bringing together city and regional officials, technology providers, international organisations, and researchers, the session draws on real-world examples to show how AI-driven tools are transforming the way cities identify vulnerable populations, map energy poverty hotspots, model compound climate hazards, and allocate scarce adaptation resources. It equally examines key risks that come with AI adoption and use: data privacy, algorithmic bias against already-marginalised communities, the environmental footprint of AI infrastructure, and the accountability challenges posed when automated systems influence public decisions.
The session discusses governance approaches and partnerships that allow cities to harness AI's potential while embedding safeguards, including inclusive data practices, public oversight mechanisms, and alignment with national, regional and local regulatory frameworks. Participants leave with practical insights on how to harness AI as a genuine tool for urban resilience - deployed where it adds value and governed where it carries risk. During the session, ICLEI will launch the new Toolkit on responsible use of AI for urban climate action.
Speakers
Research VP, Gartner Inc
Bettina Tratz-Ryan, Research VP, Gartner Inc
Bettina Tratz-Ryan is Vice President, Research, responsible for intelligent urban ecosystem research, including digitalization strategies of smart city and industry stakeholders. She focuses on digital disruption technologies that influence the sovereignty exposure, sustainability and digital equity of industry, community and society. In her AI research, Bettina advises organizations and governments on transitioning internal data practices and strategies to drive sustainable productivity, service delivery, energy resilience. She has won multiple industry awards and was named in 2021 by German Handelsblatt TOP 50 Women in Tech Influencers. As of January 2025, she is volunteering as an EU Climate Pact Ambassador.
Policy Officer, European Commission, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT)
Marko Adamovic, Policy Officer, European Commission, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT)
Marko is an environmental scientist and policy expert with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of EU policy, climate science and programme management. He holds a PhD in Ocean, Atmosphere and Hydrology. His work focuses on water, ocean and climate systems, with strong expertise in the science–policy interface and digital environmental solutions.
He currently works at the European Commission in DG CNECT, contributing to the Destination Earth initiative, including the coordination of climate adaptation and extreme weather digital twins.
Previously, Marko worked at CINEA (the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency), managing Horizon Europe projects within the Mission on Climate Adaptation and the Mission “Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030”, as well as at the Joint Research Centre on water–energy nexus modelling and climate impact assessments.
His expertise and interests include HPC, digital twins and integrated environmental systems analysis.
Head of UN-Habitat's Liaison Office in Geneva, Head of UNITAC and Head of Data and Innovation Section
Aline Machado Da Matta, Head of UN-Habitat's Liaison Office in Geneva, Head of UNITAC and Head of Data and Innovation Section
Aline Machado Da Matta is a Senior Program Management Officer and the Head of UN-habitat's Liaison office in Geneva, Head of UNITAC and Head of Data and Innovation Section.
She has extensive experience in sustainable development, urban innovation, and regional transformation, with a solid track record in international and governmental organizations. Throughout her career, she has led high level projects that have supported cities and regions in implementing smart city initiatives focused on inclusive growth.
Her work stands out for adopting a territorial approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening the role of regional strategies in advancing the global urban agenda.
CEO, Bit Genoma Digital Solutions SL
Miquel MartÍn, CEO, Bit Genoma Digital Solutions SL
Miquel Martín Goula is CEO of Bit Genoma Digital Solutions, an engineering and software company focused on digital transformation, industrial applications, IoT, RFID and applied AI. An Industrial Engineer from ETSEIB-UPC, he has over 15 years of experience developing web, mobile and cloud-based solutions for organisations including Henkel, IRTA and public administrations. He is also President of the Artificial Intelligence Working Group at the Association of Industrial Engineers of Catalonia. Miquel led the development of La Meva Energia, a web application created within the Climate Ready Barcelona project to support the management of energy poverty cases, improve communication between energy advisory services and citizens, and help public authorities better understand climate and energy vulnerability.
Moderators
Head of Green Digital Transformation, ICLEI Europe
Alis Daniela Torres, Head of Green Digital Transformation, ICLEI Europe
Daniela is an Environmental Engineer and climate action expert with 15+ years of experience across energy, ICT, and urban sustainability. With master’s degrees in Sustainable Energy and City Sciences, she bridges digital innovation and real-world sustainability impact.
She is Head of Green Digital Transformation at ICLEI Europe, supporting cities in aligning digital, green, and climate agendas. She leads smart city initiatives, promotes data- and AI-driven solutions, and advises key EU programmes such as the EU Smart Cities Marketplace and the Urban Development Technical Facility.
Previously, she worked for the ITU and spent nearly a decade at Telefónica, where she established its Climate Change Office across 26 countries.
She has also advised Ecuador’s Ministry of Energy and Mines and OLADE. Daniela is a tutor at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management (Climate Adaptation Finance programme) and contributes to global efforts advancing low-carbon, smart and resilient cities.
Expert, Green Digital Transformation, ICLEI Europe
Dr. Tanya Merger, Expert, Green Digital Transformation, ICLEI Europe
Dr. Tanya Baycheva-Merger is an Expert in Green Digital Transformation at ICLEI Europe, working on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, and urban innovation. She leads and coordinates projects and initiatives focused on the responsible development and use of AI-powered tools for climate and resilience action at local level. Among her recent work, Tanya led the development of a GeoAI Toolkit for Urban Planners (in collaboration with UN-Habitat), which provides practical guidance for integrating geospatial AI into urban planning.
Prior to joining ICLEI, Tanya worked as a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the University of Freiburg (Germany), where she focused on the intersection of digitalisation and environmental management, particularly on the adoption and use of digital tools in forest and groundwater management. She holds a PhD in Environmental and Forest Policy, a MSc in Environmental Science, and a BSc in Environmental and Resource Management.