Arham Kidwai is a student at GEMS Modern Academy in Dubai, UAE, and the founder of Climate Shield, a student-led platform that combines AI, data science, and community engagement to map climate vulnerability and support equitable, actionable climate solutions for marginalised communities.

Kidwai’s motivation arose from witnessing extreme weather events in South Asia and the Middle East, where children often miss school and local populations lack the tools to prepare for floods, heatwaves, and pollution. He sought to create a platform that would make climate science accessible, actionable, and engaging for students, while equipping communities with hyperlocal data to guide disaster preparedness and sustainability initiatives. While climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, most education systems lack the tools to teach students how to understand or mitigate its impact. Data exists, but it is fragmented, highly technical, and rarely integrated into the classroom. This leaves students and local communities unprepared for floods, heatwaves, and air pollution events that are increasingly common.

Climate Shield integrates satellite imagery, socioeconomic data, and machine learning to calculate a Climate Vulnerability Index, visualising risks and resilience indicators through interactive dashboards and gamified, school-friendly lessons. Students and teachers can simulate future scenarios, analyse local hazards, and design community-level interventions. In developing the platform, Kidwai collaborated with the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) to ensure alignment with disaster management practices, In addition technical experts in Cisco, Loyalytics.AI and AWS validated its technical architecture. Partnerships with Hale Education Group and Empower & Connect have scaled the project to 25 schools across five countries, creating a global network of youth climate leaders.

Students use Climate Shield to understand and address risks in their own neighbourhoods, reporting increased engagement with STEM subjects and stronger critical thinking about sustainability. In India, the platform supported disaster risk mapping workshops, helping students identify vulnerable flood zones and contribute to real-world resilience planning. Surveys indicate that over 95% of participating students feel more confident in analysing climate challenges and proposing solutions.