• Banele Mpande
• Sibusisiwe Dube

Climate change is increasingly impacting infrastructure and operational continuity in higher educational institutions (HEIs) and this is prompting an interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and associated digital technologies as a means of climate adaptation and resilience. Despite the increased interest in AI for climate adaptation, there is still limited reviews of the literature on this field. To fill this gap, the current study conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to synthesize the existing empirical research on AI-enabled climate adaptation in HEIs. This study was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. The study included 22 peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters written in English, published between 2021 and 2025, and selected from the IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink databases. The results highlighted that Asia is dominating in this area of research, followed by Europe. The most commonly used technologies were AI and machine learning models, then big data analytics and smart campus systems based on the Internet of Things (IoT). Technical and infrastructural preparedness were the major adoption determinants. The reported benefits of AI in climate adaptation included improved energy efficiency, improved forecasting, optimized operations, and substantial carbon reductions. The principal challenges included technical and infrastructural limitations, data and modelling complications, and financial constraints. These findings impact the HEIs’ management, researchers and policy-makers who are keen on adapting to climate change, while promoting higher education

Artificial Intelligence, Climate Adaptation, Higher Education Institutions, Climate Resilience

"Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence for Climate Adaptation in Higher Educational Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 3, page no.a13-a24, March-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2603003.pdf

"Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence for Climate Adaptation in Higher Educational Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 3, page no. ppa13-a24, March-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2603003.pdf