AI is a powerful tool that could significantly combat climate change by designing more energy-efficient buildings, improving power storage, and optimizing renewable energy deployment. By 2030, it is estimated that AI will be responsible for cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by 4%. Because it can process large amounts of data, AI has the potential to predict the impact of climate change and create strategies that will reduce its impact.
AI in climate change research has to be done with caution. AI programs must be built with environmental protection and improvement to minimize their carbon footprint. This means considering the energy consumed in the process of creation. One study suggests that the energy consumed in training an AI model generates 300,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent, equal to five average cars in the United States. This is a concern, but research is progressing in this area. The future of AI depends on addressing environmental issues.
AI can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Using AI to develop new materials could help cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. The production of concrete and steel produces 9% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Machine learning could help scientists develop low-carbon concrete and steel substitutes. AI could also help researchers find new chemical compounds low in carbon emissions. These applications could have a tremendous impact on the global economy and society.
The use of AI can help companies mitigate global warming impacts while also cutting costs. Many organizations are already incorporating AI and the internet of things to reduce their carbon footprint. AI could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5-10 percent worldwide by 2030 and generate $1-3 trillion in financial benefits for corporations. This means that AI could help companies recover from the COVID-19 crisis and transition to a low-carbon future. As the carbon price rises, AI will likely become more critical in mitigating global warming.
A world-leading initiative could document how AI is being used to mitigate climate change and draw lessons from this experience. This initiative would also help build a knowledge base to share with researchers. AI systems need access to massive datasets that are available around the world.
AI can help focus and adjust adaptation strategies.
AI may help focus and adjust adaptation strategies for climate change, agriculture, human migration, and disaster risk reduction. The potential for AI to address these challenges is immense. The potential for Africa is particularly significant, as the continent has focused on recent efforts to combat the impacts of climate change.
However, while AI may be useful for adaptation strategies, it may also hinder them, causing privacy concerns. Many concerns about AI use in climate change adaptation strategies have to do with potential data logging and privacy issues. AI may have unintended consequences, particularly in areas with low smartphone penetration. In addition, it could result in biased predictions, as data inputs vary widely. As such, AI can both help focus and adjust adaptation strategies for climate change, or it could even destroy them.
One recent example of AI for climate change adaptation is the use of data science. AI can be trained to predict the future, even if some aspects of climate change are still uncertain. For example, AI has already been used to predict the effects of tropical instability waves, global mean temperature changes and cloud systems. This type of machine learning can help governments focus and adjust adaptation strategies for climate change.
AI can help track pollution sources.
AI is an increasingly powerful tool for tracking pollution and determining the effect of various pollutants, both locally and globally. AI can be used to understand patterns of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods and track the sources of pollution. It can also identify and understand the impact of unsustainable agricultural practices, which release carbon into the atmosphere and adversely supplement climate change. Recent weather events have caused havoc across the globe. AI is being used to improve weather predictions, track the impacts of climate change, and forecast future weather patterns.
With AI becoming more advanced, we will be able to access elements of the atmosphere in real-time. This will benefit energy companies, farmers, and the military. TPG, a global investment firm, recently announced a $5.4 billion fund to invest worldwide in climate solutions. Countries are converting to renewable energy sources, and AI will be an integral part of energy yields and market behavior.
The use of AI in climate and air pollution prediction has many benefits. Researchers say it can accurately predict the amount of ozone in the atmosphere. They have developed a numerical model that includes a loss function derived from atmospheric measurements. This AI algorithm learns from past events and becomes more accurate. In the long run, it can even predict the ozone levels in real-life.
As AI improves and becomes more sophisticated, it could help households save energy. For example, AI could switch off lights when they are not in use or send power from electric vehicles back to the grid. This technology can be both a boon and a curse. But with sufficient research and development, AI could be the most effective tool to combat climate change.
