Artificial Intelligence: The Key To Climate Change
By Armaan Agrawal
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges that humanity currently faces. It is primarily caused by what is known as the “greenhouse effect,” in which greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide, are released into the atmosphere. These gasses then absorb 90% of all heat passing through the atmosphere, slowing the rate at which heat is lost into space and causing the temperature of the Earth to rise. This increase in temperature can heavily impact the way of life of different organisms and the wellbeing of natural habitats, as well as impact the weather and climate. Humans have tried many different ways in order to help address and mitigate the impact of climate change, however, technology, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), may prove to be the most effective.
In the past, when dealing with climate change, we have thought about how to fix the problems that have been created in the past. However, looking to the future and anticipating any potential impacts of climate change will allow us to take the necessary steps to lessen its effects before they occur. Artificial intelligence can do this by analyzing large amounts of data and attempting to uncover patterns in order to make predictions about future climate trends and whether certain actions will have a positive or negative impact. However, while 87% of private and public sector CEOs believe that AI is an essential tool in combating climate change, very few have an idea as to how to use it in an effective and efficient manner.
Artificial intelligence can help lessen the risks of climate change in numerous ways, namely reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, and making the use of renewable energy sources more frequent by helping us make predictions and informed decisions. AI could improve the way that carbon emissions are measured in order to better help people understand which parts of society are contributing the largest carbon footprint. AI can support the switch to newer, more environmentally-friendly energy sources, such as solar or wind power by determining the areas where there is potential for increasing the use of renewable sources of energy or by helping to improve their reliability and efficiency. AI can also help optimize supply chains by predicting the demand for certain goods to prevent overproduction or making the transportation of goods more efficient by optimizing delivery routes to minimize energy use and shorten delivery times. Furthermore, AI can accelerate the rate at which new materials and processes that curtail that greenhouse gas emissions are developed. AI can be used to analyze weather patterns and predict the probability of extreme weather events, such as floods or hurricanes, so that governments and organizations can take the appropriate measures to protect their citizens and infrastructure.
However, it is important to note that we cannot just use artificial intelligence to solve all the problems presented by climate change. In order for the issue of climate change to be truly solved, AI must be used in conjunction with other methods. Additionally, it is important to consider the accuracy and reliability of AI as well as the potential bias within the data used to train them. It is imperative that AI is developed and used in a way that is both responsible and ethical.
AI has the potential to do a great deal of good in the fight against climate change. Artificial intelligence is a very strong and versatile tool, and it can be used in many different ways in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change by helping both individuals and industries make more sustainable choices, ultimately helping to better our planet for future generations.
Works Cited
Dimock, Wai Chee. “What AI Can Do for Climate Change, and What Climate Change Can Do for AI.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 5 Apr. 2022, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-ai-can-do-for-climate-change-and-what-climate-change-can-do-for-ai/.
Minevich, Mark. “How to Fight Climate Change Using Ai.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/markminevich/2022/07/08/how-to-fight-climate-change-using-ai/?sh=5869826c2a83.
“The Causes of Climate Change.” NASA, NASA, 11 Nov. 2022, https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/.
