Energy is an area that is particularly prominent in the work we do in Colombia, because of its potential. It's a perfect match for implementing the Global Gateway in the country. Roughly 60% of the solar power generated in the country is directly generated via European foreign direct investment, and if we add to that roughly another 20% that is generated by companies that are financed by European banks, about 80% of the renewable energy potential of the country is directly or indirectly related to European investment. [...]
The Global Gateway perspective brings a breath of fresh air into our job. I think that as European Union on the ground, we have often been perceived as an entity distributing funds but not necessarily getting the right political leverage out of our investment. The new framework [...] keeps the same focus on European fundamental values, but we are shifting the way in which we implement [our initiatives]. [...]
When we engaged with the private sector and started discussing common projects, we realised that there was a potential to combine our work. But this is pretty new, for us and for them.
Global Gateway: Addressing the impact of climate change in Colombia
In this interview with Alberto Menghini, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Colombia, we learn more about the impact of climate change in Colombia and the importance of creating partnerships with governments, the private sector and other stakeholders under the Global Gateway framework.
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Global Gateway: Addressing the impact of Climate Change in Colombia.
As an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science expert. Climate Change affects us all.
The first interesting aspect is that Colombia is working on a 2035 Climate Plan.
Article: Inside Colombia's New 2035 Climate Plan.,By Hector Miguel Donado, 2 February 2026 as mentioned in the World Resource Institute. It's inspiring to read that many of the countries that have contributed the least related to the driving of the global climate transition, are those which have contributed the least to historical emissions.
Unfortunately, they are the most vulnerable to climate impacts.
A curious question ? : How does it ensure that climate action is not just a normal imperative but a pathway to competitiveness, resilience and economic growth? Good news Colombia as a country has just 0.59% of global emissions
consistently taking the lead.
However, we need to consider how Artificial Intelligence (AI) interprets climate data, to appreciate the efforts of countries. AI interprets climate change data by using machine learning (ML) and deep learning algorithms to analyze massive, complex, and heterogeneous datasets—such as satellite imagery, sensor readings, and climate models—to identify patterns, predict future climate scenarios, and optimize mitigation strategies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), has the tendency to create data loss. If this is not identified during the design it can become too late at the implementation stage.
Instead of just following physical equations, AI learns statistical relationships to make faster, more accurate, and higher-resolution predictions.
As progress report one can mention that Colombia strengthened its ambitions , increasing 2030 targets to a 51% emissions reduction below Business -as-usual (BAU)..
Surprisingly, five years later in 2025 Colombia submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contributions NDC) . as an absolute emissions limit.
Presenting the approach the country commits to limit its emission in 2035 to between 155 million and 161 million metrics tons of carbon dioxide.
Unlike other energy commodities such as coal, oil and natural gas, electricity trade between countries is relatively limited as it is more technically complex and requires a direct cross-border interconnection..
Thank you for reading..
Thank you for bringing this perspective into the discussion and for highlighting both Colombia’s increased ambition and the role of AI in interpreting climate data.
It is encouraging to see how climate action is being framed not only as an environmental necessity, but also as a pathway to resilience and long-term competitiveness. Your reflections on data quality and AI design are also an important reminder that technological tools must be used carefully and transparently.
From your perspective, how can AI best support countries like Colombia in turning climate commitments into measurable and inclusive results on the ground?