Nature Unheard: Can AI outsmart the weather?

In this episode of Nature Unheard, the EBRD podcast exploring the intersection of nature, climate and the economy, hosts Rachael Barza and Emma Bentley dive into the fast-changing world of weather forecasting – from everyday frustrations with unreliable forecasts to the growing risks posed by extreme weather events. 

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.  

The episode features insights from Carlo Buontempo, Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), who unpacks the difference between weather and climate, explains why historical patterns no longer tell us what to expect, and looks at how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we predict storms, heatwaves and floods.  

The conversation also looks at how faster, more accurate forecasts can help to protect ecosystems, reduce emissions and support climate adaptation – from safeguarding biodiversity to improving urban resilience – and examines EBRD projects in Mongolia.  This episode also features Rainbow AI, an EBRD-supported company using machine learning to deliver real-time weather “nowcasting”, helping communities and decision-makers to respond to climate risks as they unfold.  

The EBRD’s projects in Mongolia were supported by donors Austria, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and Japan (through the EBRD’s Green Cities programme). And our client Rainbow AI has also received support from the European Union.  

This episode was produced by Olga Aristeidou and Cecilia Calatrava.