With rising concerns over climate change, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important tool in helping to mitigate its effects. From preventing illegal deforestation to optimizing energy use in buildings and monitoring rhinos, AI-driven technology could prove to be a valuable weapon in the fight against global heating.
ChatGPT, a new AI-powered tool, has recently generated a lot of buzz with its potential to help the planet in numerous ways. According to a study commissioned by tech giant Microsoft, AI-driven projects in the areas of agriculture, water, energy and transport could result in an estimated reduction of 4% in greenhouse emissions by 2030, saving around 29 gigatons of carbon dioxide in the process.
David Rolnick, assistant professor in the school of computer science at McGill University (Canada) and co-founder of the nonprofit Climate Change AI, cautions against the overestimation of AI’s abilities, however: “AI is not some kind of silver bullet, nor is it more valuable than other classical tools for climate action”.
AI is making a big difference in a variety of areas. Rainforest Connection is working to protect trees by installing sensor-equipped “guardians” onto trees. The sensors “eavesdrop” on sounds in the forest, such as chainsaws and trucks, which can indicate illegal logging. Nearly 600 of these devices have already been set up in 35 different countries, and have already collected 107 million minutes of audio data.
Fero Labs, an American company, uses AI to reduce the amount of mined ingredients used in steel production by up to a third. This has resulted in 450,000 tons of CO2 emissions saved annually, and could save an estimated 11.9 million tons of CO2 if applied to the entire US industry.
In Hong Kong, AI-driven Neuron app is using 5G and IoT sensors to monitor energy use in buildings. The app uses an algorithm to make optimizations to the heating and cooling system, as well as make predictions for the building’s future energy demand. This is saving 10-30% of the energy used in a typical commercial building, preventing an estimated 11.9 million tons of CO2 emissions.
Animal conservation is also benefiting from AI. Rouxcel Technology has created AI-enabled bracelets to fit around the ankles of rhinos that send alerts when abnormal behaviors in the animals are detected, such as when poachers are present.
Agvolution, a Germany-based startup, has also developed an AI system that draws on data from solar-powered sensors to precisely manage plant health and reduce emissions caused by fertilizer and pesticides. This system can reportedly increase ecological and economic efficiency by up to 40%.
Open Climate Fix, a nonprofit from the UK, has been working in partnership with National Grid to develop AI-powered cloud-monitoring models. The goal of the project is to reduce reliance on fossil-powered reserves, providing more reliable and renewable energy sources. A number of pilots are also currently active in two countries in southern Europe, with talks to initiate one in Asia.
AI is a powerful tool indeed, but it is important to remember that it shouldn’t be seen as a silver bullet, nor should it be valued over other classical methods of mitigating climate change. Despite this, it is clear that AI is having a positive impact on the environment across many aspects, and a lot more progress is expected in the future.
