Sajid Siraj
Job title:
Area of work and how it relates to COP30:
I work in multi-criteria decision analysis and explainable artificial intelligence. It addresses one of the most pressing challenges at COP30: how to make complex decisions that balance competing priorities in a transparent and fair manner. My research on prioritising endangered species and energy communities provides practical frameworks for allocating limited resources where they will have the greatest impact. Also, with the ever-increasing use of AI, we must ensure these systems do not disadvantage vulnerable communities who are already disproportionately affected by climate change. My work on explainability and fairness in machine learning is crucial in this regard.
What are the big issues that COP30 needs to address? What are your hopes for the negotiations?
I believe COP30 must address the gap between ambition and implementation. Whilst many nations have made pledges, translating these commitments into actions requires better decision-making frameworks that can handle the complexity of real-world trade-offs. For example, there is an urgent need to integrate biodiversity protection with climate action, recognising that these crises are interconnected and cannot be solved in isolation. My hope is that COP30 moves beyond aspirational statements towards establishing robust, transparent mechanisms for decision-making that can be trusted by all stakeholders. We need frameworks that help countries make difficult choices about resource allocation in ways that are scientifically sound and socially just.
What's your message for world leaders at COP30?
I urge you not to use the complexity of climate action as an excuse for inaction. Together, we can build analytical tools to navigate trade-offs and make progress even when perfect solutions do not exist.
Do you have any tips about climate action that you can share?
In my view, climate action does not require grand gestures; it starts with making informed decisions in your daily life and demanding transparency in the decisions made on your behalf. Question the black boxes when institutions use data or AI to make climate-related decisions that affect you. Support initiatives that protect local biodiversity, because every species and ecosystem plays a role in climate resilience. Remember that climate action is as much about justice as it is about carbon, so advocate for solutions that uplift vulnerable communities rather than placing additional burdens on them.