AI is key to solving the climate crisis in 2023
Climate change will have a major impact on environmental, social and economic systems around the world. We are already experiencing many of its environmental effects, from longer droughts to more destructive storms.
Therefore, mitigation is essential, including efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Minimizing damage, however, will also require increasing our adaptation and resilience efforts, from immediate crisis response to long-term planning. In addition, these efforts will require the support of activities such as research, funding and education.
AI as a tool is in a unique position to help manage these complex problems. Due to its ability to collect, complement and interpret large and complex data sets on emissions, climate impact, etc., it can be used to help all stakeholders to take a more informed and evidence-based approach. data to fight carbon emissions and build a greener world. Company. It can also be used to redirect global climate efforts towards regions most at risk. (See "Meeting the needs of the Global South.")
As such, the use of AI offers the opportunity to achieve meaningful change at this critical time, whether through mitigation, adaptation and resilience or by supporting the foundations of global climate efforts.
With this opportunity in mind, BCG recently surveyed global climate and AI leaders from the public and private sectors on their views on the potential of AI as a tool to fight change. climate change, as well as the obstacles that impede its adoption. (See "Survey Methodology".)
In response, 87% said that advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, or simply "AI", are now a useful tool in the fight against climate change. Additionally, 67% of people in the private sector said they want governments to do more to support the use of AI in the fight against climate change. (See slideshow.)
Additionally, 43% of organizations say they have a vision for using AI in their own climate change efforts, confirming a strong interest in the potential of this tool. Note that the percentage differs by industry, ranging from over 50% for industrial goods companies to as high as 30% for consumer companies. Geographically, the United States shows the most interest among Northern countries, with 64% of respondents saying they use AI in their climate efforts, while an average of 42% say they have a vision for using it.
Please note that we use the term "AI" to refer to artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, defined as the use of sophisticated data analysis techniques, such as machine learning algorithms and data engineering.
The AI opportunity
Global leaders in the public and private sectors surveyed see the greatest business value from AI in reducing and measuring emissions. However, world leaders can use AI in different ways to achieve their goals.
Mitigation
AI can be used to help measure emissions at the macro and micro levels, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and effects, and remove existing emissions from the atmosphere. In BCG's experience, for example, AI can be used to help reduce GHG emissions equivalent to 5-10% of an organization's carbon footprint, or a total of 2.6-5.3 gigatons of CO2e if scaled globally.
Adaptation and resilience
AI can be applied to improve risk prediction for long-term regionalized events, such as sea level rise, and for immediate extreme events, such as hurricanes, among other possibilities. These applications include vulnerability and exposure management, for example, by developing infrastructure capable of minimizing the impact of climate hazards.
Fundamentals
AI can also be used to bolster climate research and modeling efforts; climate finance; and education, parenting and behavior change, for example by driving personalized tools to estimate an individual's carbon footprint or making recommendations for eco-friendly purchases. (See the exhibit.)
In each of these uses, AI can be employed in five main ways:
To collect and complement complex data sets on emissions, climate effects, etc.
Strengthen planning and decision making.
To optimize processes
Support collaborative ecosystems
Encourage positive climate behavior
Therefore, it can serve as a tool to help stakeholders, from businesses and governments to NGOs and investors, to take a more informed and data-driven approach, while providing them with opportunities to create meaningful change right now. . critical. Keep in mind that AI is not the solution itself, but rather a tool to help leaders and citizens make informed judgments about how to address climate challenges.
Obstacles to progress
While there are some areas where AI solutions are well established and ready for wide application, such as measuring emissions and monitoring natural carbon sinks, existing AI-related climate change solutions are now more dispersed, they are difficult to access and they are missing. scale resources.
Additionally, not all organisations are still actively engaged in climate and AI-related issues, while even leaders already engaged in this space face many barriers to using climate AI. In fact, 78% of respondents cite poor access to AI expertise, whether inside or outside their organisation, as a barrier; 77% report a lack of available AI solutions; and 67% say they face a lack of organisational trust in AI data and analytics.
Need significant support
If they are to be widely adopted, AI solutions must be designed to be easy to use, whether they are developed for businesses, governments, or the general public. They must be easily accessible, offer tangible benefits to the user, and provide clear information to guide user action.
Resources and networks
Promising solutions also need resources and networks if they are to maximize the potential of AI in the fight against climate change, especially in the Global South. They need access to capital investment, decision makers, and trained professionals to enable them to expand. Financial support can bridge the gap between academic research and large-scale implementation, while connections with policy makers and business leaders can help build awareness and adoption. Additionally, sharing knowledge of best practices and promising applications can ensure that solutions are ready for large-scale deployment across governments and businesses. All these resources and networks are particularly valuable for solutions that meet the needs of the countries of the South.
Capacity building.
Successful solutions require significant capacity building. Training and retraining can ensure public servants, private sector leaders, and other stakeholders are effectively using and interpreting AI solutions in the most critical contexts.
The will to overcome vendor lock-in is also needed to ensure promising solutions can be scaled. And current AI research, mostly led by Northern institutes and companies, needs to become more inclusive, as it risks overlooking the needs of the South, where many countries will be disproportionately affected by climate change. .
Trust and Trust
Given its complexity and the risks of unethical behavior, whether intentional or not, AI users must earn the trust of climate leaders. Therefore, solutions must use AI responsibly, use granular and trusted underlying data sets, and focus on results that can be interpreted and understood.
Despite its promise, we note that AI cannot be used to solve the climate crisis in isolation. Rather, it is one of many tools that must be used to meet this global challenge. Individuals, communities and organizations that have a role to play in addressing the climate crisis, regardless of their formal role in AI or climate-related issues, should therefore consider how other emerging technologies can assist and help break down barriers to scale for these too. .
A call for solutions
While many barriers to implementation remain, we are excited to work with AI for the Planet to help new solutions overcome these barriers and realize their potential at scale. We encourage all interested parties to participate in our first call for solutions, including those at any stage of maturity, who have received a working prototype, and from any industry.
Recognizing that all individuals, communities, and organizations have a role to play, regardless of their formal role in AI or climate-related issues, readers are encouraged to consider how other emerging technologies can help combat climate change and remove barriers to expansion. .
Finally, we encourage readers who are engaged in the climate or AI communities to share the barriers, frictions, and pain points they face when engaging in climate analysis, climate change solutions, AI for the climate crisis, and Other themes. This vital support will inform future publications and, most importantly, help us prioritise our efforts to address these issues.
This article is adapted from a report created with AI for the Planet, a partnership created by Startup Inside with BCG as a knowledge partner and in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT), and includes additional results from BCG's survey of world leaders.
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