AI IN CLIMATE CHANGE

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to “supercharge” climate action, however, there are also risks coming with the technology especially if it is unregulated and without safeguards. The UNFCCC Climate Summit COP 28 set the stage for exploring how AI can help tackle climate change.

AI has the potential to advance and scale up transformative climate solutions, for example regarding mitigation and adaptation action. For instance, AI can be used to predict climate patterns and extreme weather events, improve crop yields, reduce water usage or optimize renewable energy systems.

Scientists and policymakers can greatly benefit from AI to understand complex climate systems and simulate scenarios to assess potential impacts of policies and interventions. However, AI models can be complex and difficult to interpret, raising concerns about transparency and bias in decision-making. Ensuring AI models are created and implemented in a way that adheres to ethical standards and principles, for instance by being non-discriminatory and transparent, is crucial for their effective use in climate action.?

Potentially, AI could contribute to rather than shrink global inequality. Currently, gaps exist between AI providers, governments and AI users. AI's effectiveness depends on data quality and the availability of suitable infrastructure. In some regions or sectors, lack of advanced technology or reliable data may hinder AI's potential in climate action. Often, these are places in the Global South, where communities are already at the frontline of climate change impacts, while most research in AI is conducted in the Global North. Equal access to AI demands awareness of existing digital divides, data gaps and biases.