Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will push for financial reforms and the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies at the G7 summit in Italy, with a focus on sustainable development funding and AI schemes in Asia and Africa.
Sunak Calls for Financial Reforms and AI Advancements at G7 Summit
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to address the need for unlocking funding for sustainable development and leveraging the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) during the G7 summit in Italy. On the second day of the summit, Sunak will announce funding initiatives potentially exceeding £100 million, including a £20 million extension of an AI development scheme into Asia.
Sunak’s session will emphasize the necessity of reforming the international financial system to accelerate sustainable development goals and amplify the voices of vulnerable populations. He will highlight £57 million earmarked for the Climate Compatible Growth programme, which aims to improve climate-resilient infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
Additionally, £35 million will be allocated to the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa, promoting sustainable infrastructure investments. A notable partnership with the World Bank and the EU will bolster African regional electricity transmission with £15 million dedicated to the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector, part of a larger $300 million project.
Further funding includes £500,000 for green infrastructure initiatives between the UK, Kenya, and the G7, and a £300,000 British Geological Survey mapping contribution in Angola. The AI for Development programme, initiated at the Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit in November 2023, aims to support safe AI projects worldwide, beginning in Africa.
A collaboration between the UK, Canada, and other partners focuses on global accessibility to AI technology and establishing AI labs for training future professionals.
