Driving Change: Sustainability and AI

How big business is taking the lead on climate change?

Sustainability is more than focusing on cutting-edge technologies and innovative products, solutions, and services. It is about the people responsible for them, and everyone should take on responsibility and use their know-how to create innovations.?Around half of emissions come from industries where technological and business solutions to reducing emissions remain unclear. Looking to the future, deep cuts in emissions from across the industrial system will depend on a cluster of critical technologies.? ?

After the COP26, many of the world’s largest companies voluntarily announced bold new plans to mitigate global warming. More than 5,200 businesses pledged to meet net-zero carbon targets by 2050. According to this article by 麦肯锡 , more sectors will follow this example and start the change to fight climate issues. Companies need to include “game changer” technologies, like AI, that will be highly disruptive, especially in industries that have proved difficult to decarbonize.?

Sustainability report for an effective strategy?

Companies from different sectors around the globe are making promises to implement sustainability in their processes. But a promise requires a strategy, and a report is an effective way to ensure that a strategy is on the right track. A Sustainability Report is evidence of a company's conviction and commitment to ongoing sustainability initiatives. In this kind of documents, we should find information on the environmental, social and corporate governance areas, as well as a company’s goals for the future. ?

The importance of AI in reaching these goals is undeniable, and this technology can be an ally in our journey towards sustainability. By using artificial intelligence, companies can increase efficiency in production, both for their business and customers. AI also improves machines' productivity, which saves energy and conserves resources. Companies should analyse their product and sector and realise how they can effectively implement AI in their company and measure effectiveness through reports.?

Beyond artificial intelligence, we need people who test and know how to implement it to achieve better results.?In the last edition of our newsletter, we discussed that it takes an ecosystem of people, partners and customers working together to achieve better results. This also applies to sustainability. The journey towards sustainable products, solutions, and services is a work in progress, and companies should continually seek ways to improve with the help of their partners.? ?

Download the full version of our K?rber Sustainability Report 2022 and join us on this adventure to build a better future through AI. ?

House of Sustainability?

Every company that wants to generate a positive impact should prioritize sustainability as an essential component of its business strategy. But sustainability is about more than climate action: it is about people, values, and ethical standards and requires a unique and holistic approach to sustainability. That’s why a company’s strategy should cover the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, social, and governance. These are the pillars of our House of Sustainability to enable a better life for current and future generations.?

Must-read for a sustainable AI-driven future??

What is the role of AI in building a sustainable future? How can we apply it in our businesses? Can Artificial Intelligence help us fight climate change? It is natural to have a lot of doubts about the future, on a topic that can cause eco-anxiety. So, we went looking for the answers. After all, to build a sustainable future, we need to read about it! That's why we selected some articles for those interested in learning how AI can make sustainability a reality:?

1. Our first suggestion is an article from Forbes about the role of AI in creating a sustainable future. Sustainability has emerged as a top value driving companies to explore new ways to evaluate and demonstrate their sustainable contributions.??
2. To combat this global emergency, James Bellingham , executive director of the Institute for Assured Autonomy at The Johns Hopkins University , discusses the potential for using AI. Read the full article and find how AI can help fight climate change.
3. This article from The Guardian gives us five ways AI could improve the world. From curing diseases, to stabilise our climate and even halt poverty AI can help us make several progresses to build a better future.?

Kirk Bradley Peterkin , Strategic Designer and Sustainability Project Lead at K?rber Digital

How AI can kickstart the fight against climate change?

There is no doubt that AI's potential for sustainability in manufacturing, but are manufacturing companies ready to take on this challenge? AI technology has the power to fight some of our planet's most critical environmental issues and can be the superhero the environment needs. Explore our full blog article and learn how AI can build a more sustainable world for future generations.