Since 1970, the world has experienced an average loss of 73% of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibious populations. Climate change, water stress and resource release accelerate only stress in our natural environment. Thirty-five percent of the world’s GDP-appropriate to $ 58 trillion-exposed to extensive risk of this environmental decline without immediate action.
For more than two decades, we have built tools and technology that enable partners, NGOs, governments and academics around the world to help tackle nature and biodiversity losses. And today we are announcing three new efforts to accelerate the protection and restoration of nature in regions that are home to some of the most critical habitats, ecosystems and communities.
Google for Startups Accelerator: AI for nature and climate
We launch our first accelerator focusing on startups using technology to protect, control and restore nature. The World Economic Forum has identified the loss of biodiversity and the collapse of the ecosystem as top global risks over the next 10 years. Therefore, to mitigate this risk requires progress in data collection, insight and modeling and decision-making-which is why we support the best startups in the world to target this question. Google for Startups Accelerator: AI for Nature and Climate welcomes Startups in America and offers 10 weeks of virtual programming, including mentoring and technical support from Google engineers and experts through a mix of one-on-one and group learning sessions. Applications are open from March 3, 2025 to 31 March 2025, and the program starts in May 2025. For more information and details of how to apply, you can visit our site.
AI for Nature and Climate: A new appropriation fund for nonprofit organizations
Google.org has provided $ 3M to ICS to launch an open call for subsidy posts to support AI-activated solutions from Brazilian nonprofit organizations and research centers chosen by ICS. The $ 3 million financing In Google.org, support organizations that utilize AI in three areas:
- Reversing loss of biodiversity: This includes solutions that support the “30×30” global effort to protect 30% of Earth’s soil and sea by 2030 for the protection of biodiversity and the establishment of protected areas, original territories (present and traditional) in accordance with the global biodiversity framework.
- Bioeconomy: This includes technologies that support the value chains for wood and non-time forest products, as well as services associated with Brazilian socio-biodiversity.
- Regenerative Agriculture: This includes activities that support regenerative and elastic agriculture, especially for small farmers.
You can find more information about the financing and these areas of interest on this site.
Speciesnet: A new Open Source AI Model for the Conservation of Wildlife
We also advertise the open source release of Speciesnet, an AI model designed to identify animal species by analyzing photos from camera traps. Since 2019, thousands of wildlife biologists have used Speciesnet through a Google-shy-based tool called Wildlife Insights to streamline biodiversity monitoring and inform about decision making. Speciesnet AI model release will enable tool developers, academics and biodiversity-related startups for scale monitoring of biodiversity in natural areas.
Protection of nature and biodiversity is critical of tackling climate change, and we look forward to supporting startups focusing on this challenge.