## Embracing Indigenous Knowledge to Guide Climate Innovation: The Collaboration of IBM and Net Zero Atlantic in Canada

In recent years, Nova Scotia has emerged as a promising hub for the clean energy transition, boasting some of the world’s fastest offshore wind speeds and immense potential for hydrogen development. Despite this, the impact of energy development often fails to integrate Indigenous perspectives, rendering these conversations inaccessible to those outside the energy industry. To address this, IBM has joined forces with Net Zero Atlantic in Nova Scotia to empower Indigenous communities’ participation in the clean energy transition. This collaboration endeavors to utilize a combination of science, technology, and Indigenous knowledge, an approach known as “two-eyed seeing,” to tackle climate challenges and facilitate a just transition.

### A User-Centric Approach to Climate Technology

Net Zero Atlantic’s open-source Atlantic Canada Energy System (ACES) Model is a powerful tool for analyzing and forecasting energy generation and infrastructure development scenarios. However, the technical complexity of such tools often hinders accessibility for users. To bridge this gap, the IBM Sustainability Accelerator and Net Zero Atlantic have set out to transform the ACES Model into a user-friendly application, coined “ACES Lite,” focusing on empowering user experience. The design of ACES Lite aims to ease navigation through complex data interpretations and geographical models. Through collaborative efforts, IBM technology and the expertise of volunteers have been leveraged to ensure the application’s usability. The tool has also undergone testing sessions with Mi’kmaq users to refine its functionality further.

### Embracing Two-Eyed Seeing and the Power of Collaboration

The collaboration with Net Zero Atlantic and IBM upholds the guiding principle of “two-eyed seeing” as advocated by Mi’kmaq Elder Dr. Albert Marshall, emphasizing the integration of Western science and technology with Indigenous perspectives. The project has actively engaged the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, garnering their traditional knowledge to guide the work effectively. Notably, the collaboration has received enthusiasm and expertise from various stakeholders, including the Mi’kmaq communities, the government of Nova Scotia, offshore wind groups, and academic and research teams.

### What Lies Ahead for ACES Lite

Moving forward, IBM and Net Zero Atlantic plan to conduct further pilot testing of ACES Lite with user groups in Cape Breton while exploring innovative enhancements based on community feedback. The application’s potential deployment in other regions undergoing energy transition is also being considered. The envisioned end goal is to make ACES Lite accessible to the public by the conclusion of 2024, offering a strategic planning tool for sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy systems from a community perspective.

Learn more about the IBM Sustainability Accelerator

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**FAQs**

1. **What is the Two-Eyed Seeing approach?**
– Two-eyed seeing is a guiding approach that integrates the best of Western science and technology with Indigenous perspectives and wisdom to positively impact the environment.

2. **What is the ACES Lite application designed to achieve?**
– The ACES Lite application aims to empower users—particularly Indigenous communities—to navigate and interpret complex energy system models with ease and make informed decisions regarding the energy transition.

3. **How is IBM collaborating with Net Zero Atlantic and Indigenous communities?**
– IBM is collaborating with Net Zero Atlantic and Indigenous communities to enhance the usability of the ACES Model, ensuring it reflects Indigenous perspectives and knowledge, and to democratize climate information for a just transition.

4. **What is the significance of the collaboration between IBM, Net Zero Atlantic, and the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources?**
– The collaboration aims to leverage technology, Indigenous knowledge, and community engagement to guide energy planning and transition, emphasizing the importance of incorporating traditional knowledge for informed decision-making.

5. **What are the future plans for ACES Lite?**
– The next steps involve continued pilot testing with user groups, exploring innovative additions based on community feedback, and considering potential deployment in other regions undergoing energy transition.

Source: [IBM](https://www.ibm.com/blogs/sustainability/2024/09/indigenous-perspectives-climate-innovation-net-zero-atlantic-canada/)