Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Climate Change Action

Written by Emily Crabtree

Explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing our approach to combating our global crisis.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

According to IBM, “Artificial intelligence, or AI, is a branch of computer science that enables machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities.” AI technology such as machine learning and deep learning, allow computers to learn from data, recognize patterns, and make decisions without human interference.

How is AI helping tackle Climate Change?

There are many ways AI can help in combating climate change, National Geographic primarily notes the following ways:

• Climate Data Analysis: AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of climate data to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies, helping scientists make more informed predictions about climate change and its impacts.
• Example: AI is used to analyze rising temperature trends, rising sea levels, deforestation, and more. A study led by Stanford University suggests that Earth is likely to surpass the critical climate threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the early 2030s, even with declining emissions. This underscores the urgent need for rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the most severe impacts of climate change.

• Carbon Reduction: AI is being used to optimize energy usage, improve renewable energy sources, and develop more energy-efficient materials and technologies, all of which contribute to reducing carbon emissions.
• Example: Carbon Tracker is a nonprofit that uses AI to analyze satellite imagery and track emissions from power plants, providing valuable data to convince policymakers and the finance industry to transition to cleaner energy sources.

• Natural Disaster Prediction: AI algorithms can analyze data to predict natural disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires, helping communities prepare and mitigate potential damage.
• Example: AI can analyze satellite data to predict extreme weather events such as hurricanes allowing for better preparation and response. Jim Bellingham, executive director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Assured Autonomy, says “Using AI to factor in elements of climate change that are constantly evolving helps us make more informed predictions about changes in the environment, so that we can deploy mitigation efforts earlier.”

What can we expect for the future of AI + Climate Change

The future of AI in addressing climate change appears promising but challenging. AI will very likely play an increasingly critical role in climate modeling, prediction, and mitigation efforts. However, integrating AI into climate change solutions will require overcoming various challenges, such as ensuring data accuracy and reliability, addressing ethical concerns, and managing the energy consumption of AI systems. Despite these issues, AI has major potential to revolutionize our approach in tackling climate change. By harnessing its power we can develop more effective strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change and creating a more sustainable future for generations to come.