Insight: AI - a tailwind for the green transition?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has hit the headlines in a big way and the tech industry, governments and societies alike are scrambling to consider its future implications and how to regulate its development. In the meantime, AI applications are expanding exponentially and so we thought it would be timely to recap how AI has the potential to assist the green transition if used in the right way and how the UK’s research community has been considering the issue.
7 ways that artificial intelligence could help to address climate change & restore nature
Energy optimization: AI can be used to optimize energy usage in various industries such as transportation, manufacturing, and buildings, reducing carbon emissions by using energy more efficiently. For example, AI can optimize traffic flow to reduce congestion, thereby decreasing carbon emissions from idling cars. Similarly, AI can optimize heating and cooling in buildings, reducing the amount of energy needed for temperature control.
Renewable energy: AI can be used to optimize the placement and operation of renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels. AI can also help to predict weather patterns and optimize energy storage, which can reduce the reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
Agriculture and forestry: AI can be used to monitor crops and forests, helping farmers and foresters to identify and address issues such as drought, pests, and disease. This can reduce the amount of water, fertilizer, and pesticides used, leading to more sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
Waste management: AI can be used to optimize waste management practices, such as recycling and composting. By identifying materials that can be recycled or composted, AI can help to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills, which can produce methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas.
Smart cities: AI can be used to optimize city infrastructure and services, such as transportation, waste management, and energy usage. By optimizing these systems, AI can help to reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of life for residents.
Environmental monitoring: AI can be used to monitor environmental data, such as air and water quality, and to predict and prevent natural disasters. This can help to reduce the impact of climate change on the environment and human populations.
Conservation and restoration: AI can be used to aid in the conservation and restoration of ecosystems, such as coral reefs and rainforests. By analyzing data on the health and well-being of these ecosystems, AI can help to identify the most effective conservation and restoration practices.
However, AI can of course also have negative impacts on the environment if used improperly. Most significantly are the potential impacts of the multitude of activities across the economy that AI could enable and help to expand. Also the direct energy usage of AI systems can be significant, and the production and disposal of electronics can have negative environmental impacts. Therefore, it is important to consider the entire lifecycle of AI systems and ensure that they are designed and used in a way that is environmentally sustainable.
A brief history of UK research into AI for the climate
Research into AI applications to address climate change in the UK has been ongoing for several years, and there have been numerous initiatives and projects aimed at exploring the potential of AI in this area. Here are some key milestones in the history of UK research into AI applications to address climate change:
In 2017, the UK government announced the creation of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), which was tasked with examining the ethical implications of AI and data-driven technologies, including their potential impact on the environment.
In 2018, the Alan Turing Institute, the UK's national institute for data science and AI, launched a research program aimed at developing AI tools and techniques to support sustainable development.
In 2019, the UK government announced the launch of a £100m research and development fund for green technologies, including AI and machine learning applications.
In the same year, the UK's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) announced the creation of a new £5m program focused on using AI and machine learning to address environmental challenges, including climate change.
In 2020, the UK government launched a £90m fund to support the development of clean energy technologies, including AI and machine learning applications.
Also in 2020, the UK's Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) launched a new research program focused on the role of AI and machine learning in enabling a low-carbon transition.
In 2021, the UK government launched a new AI and Climate Change Innovation Challenge aimed at supporting the development of AI solutions to address climate change.
Photo credits: Sailboat by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash; elephant made of recycled batteries by Accelar.