The impacts of the climate crisis have moved from future projections to present reality, affecting life on Earth in tangible ways. What was once considered extreme weather is now becoming more routine, causing greater harm to human life and the built environment. Environmental change is straining natural ecosystems; 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. Mitigating biodiversity loss and climate impacts will depend on how quickly scalable solutions can be deployed.

Modern artificial intelligence — including advanced machine learning, computer vision systems, and other recent innovations — offers practitioners new ways to solve problems and accelerate progress, but new technologies need thoughtful direction to have the most impact on tough problems. AI systems themselves can have significant environmental impacts, requiring substantial energy and water resources for training and operation. By identifying additive and precise uses of AI, practitioners can ensure it is accelerating urgently needed solutions in ways that humans alone cannot achieve. Already, people are using artificial intelligence to monitor greenhouse gas emissions, detect methane leaks and forest fires, and advance a clean energy economy — but more can be done.

The Bezos Earth Fund is a $10 billion philanthropic initiative established in 2020 to address climate change and protect nature. Recognizing the opportunity to multiply the impact of climate and nature solutions using thoughtfully deployed AI solutions, the fund commissioned research and and convened technologists, nonprofit leaders, academic researchers, and environmental experts to better understand how AI could drive impact at speed and scale.

The organizations with the best understanding of climate and nature problems frequently lack the necessary technological expertise, infrastructure, or funding to independently deploy AI. At the same time, AI researchers and technology providers grasp the potential and practical applications of rapidly evolving technologies but often lack hands-on experience in implementing climate or nature solutions. While important work was happening across domains and across the world, there was not a strong established ecosystem to support innovative and impactful applications of AI to help address climate change.

The Bezos Earth Fund saw a need to elevate and develop communities working at the intersection of climate and AI, attract promising ideas from around the world, and quickly move resources — funds and technical support — to accelerate solutions relevant to the fund’s already established program areas.

The AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge is a groundbreaking $100 million initiative harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to address urgent challenges in climate change and nature loss. Working in close collaboration with leaders from the Bezos Earth Fund and outside experts, Luminary Labs designed a global multiphase challenge to advance the field. Ultimately, the Grand Challenge aims to accelerate the creation and scaling of new solutions by providing transformative resources and fostering partnerships among experts in climate, nature, and AI.

Launched in 2024, the Grand Challenge is unfolding across three rounds and offering up to $100 million in total funding. In alignment with the Bezos Earth Fund’s existing program areas, the first round of the Grand Challenge is focused on sustainable proteins, power grid optimization, and biodiversity conservation — as well as other visionary “wildcard” solutions. To support partnerships and attract a wide range of submissions, Luminary Labs provided prospective entrants with expert perspectives, resources, tools, and information to support their proposal and solution development.

Luminary Labs designed and administered the first phase of the AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge in partnership with Radiant Earth, the fiscal partner. The Bezos Earth Fund will guide teams through the Phase II innovation sprint and future rounds of the Grand Challenge.

The Grand Challenge catalyzed multidisciplinary, multinational collaborations capable of generating breakthrough solutions. In Phase I, more than 1,000 organizations representing 94 countries submitted proposals. The ambitious mission and incentives inspired innovators from around the world to explore novel ideas and forge new partnerships. Submissions brought together a wide array of experience and expertise — from government agencies and global philanthropies to grassroots organizations and technology startups. Rather than seeking purely theoretical research, the program focused on implementable solutions that could meaningfully advance climate and nature solutions, attracting applicants committed to real-world impact.

Luminary Labs recruited over 180 experts across diverse fields — including artificial intelligence, climate science, environmental sustainability, and technology innovation — to review submissions against the selection criteria. Top-scoring proposals advanced to the Phase I judging panel for further evaluation. In May 2025, the Bezos Earth Fund announced Phase I grants worth $1.2 million to 24 solutions across the four first-round focus areas. Following the Phase II innovation sprint, up to 15 solutions will be selected to receive implementation grants of $2 million each to further develop and scale their solutions over a two-year period.