Could AI revolutionize climate action?
Along with reshaping social and economic life, artificial intelligence (AI) could become a decisive factor in global efforts against climate change.
No doubt, AI use is contributing to rising levels of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. But at the same time, digital technologies – including unprecedented computing power and AI-driven insights and system optimization – offer a lifeline as the effects of climate change become increasingly evident.
AI, for instance, can help predict and manage climate-related disasters, potentially saving numerous lives and livelihoods in the years ahead.
A recent report from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) examines AI and the environment and associated technical standards development for environmental sustainability. Green Digital Action – an initiative launched by ITU in partnership with tech companies, governments and other organizations a year ago – aims to ensure technologies strengthen, rather than undermine, emissions reduction and climate response measures.
A new part of the initiative this year focuses on “green computing” and the impact of AI.
The need for green AI was also a key topic during the AI for Good Global Summit held by ITU in cooperation with other UN agencies earlier this year.
Google, one of the world’s leading AI innovators, is working with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to improve flood alerts with an early warning system called Flood Hub, now available in over 80 countries.
“By combining the hydrological models with the technologies in Google research in AI, they’ve been able to create a solution that helps to predict riverine floods up to seven days in advance,” explained Google’s Global Director of Sustainability and Partnerships, Antonia Gawel, during an AI for Good Global Summit workshop in May.
Another Google initiative, Project Contrails, aims to help airlines reduce their climate impact through altitude and route adjustments.
Identifying and reducing climate risks
Another early warning system, MedEWsa, conveys regional risk and vulnerability assessments on natural hazards, extreme weather, and disaster response financing in Mediterranean, African and European countries. The system reaches everyone from first responders to policy-makers with tailored notifications that support continuous adaptation
“MedEWsa is fully addressing the early warning cycle from data to models to public safety, and that will enhance resilience and reduce the increasing impacts of extreme weather events, natural hazards and actual disasters,” said Elena Xoplaki, Senior Scientist and Acting Head of the Climatology in the Climate Dynamics and Climate Change Research Group at Germany’s Justus Liebig University.
Finapp, a tech start-up affiliated with Italy’s University of Padua, has combined machine learning with particle physics and cosmic rays to help farmers conserve scarce water supplies.
“Neutron-sensing technology involves capital-intensive and sophisticated hardware, but it can provide valuable inputs for adaptative irrigation strategies,” said Finapp’s Chief Marketing Officer, Angelo Amicarelli.
Environmental and climate monitoring through the associated AI-synthesized water data also gives “early warnings for weather extremes, strengthening resilience,” he adds.
Finapp was a winner at last year’s AI for Climate Action Innovation Factory organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
AI boosting energy efficiency
Similarly, AI can help all industries reduce their energy consumption and GHG emissions. Telecom networks are no exception, with their energy-efficiency gains so far helping offset the growing footprint of AI.
Orange, for instance, reports annually on all GHG emissions, sets science-based emissions-reduction targets, and is striving for carbon neutrality by 2040.
“AI provides a powerful tool for energy management and optimization, despite challenges such as data reliability and system maintenance,” said Philippe Tuzzolino, Senior Vice President at Orange.
ITU technical standards provide network and data centre operators with tools to measure and reduce climate impacts.
Orange utilizes ITU-standard methodologies for life-cycle assessments, energy consumption and GHG impact, GHG emissions trajectories, net-zero targets, and enabling the net-zero transition across other sectors, Tuzzolino said.
Another tech giant, Huawei, highlighted the importance of energy-efficiency standards for data centres, base stations and networks.
“Carbon neutrality has transitioned from a global consensus to a global campaign, driving the high-quality development of the energy industry,” said Paolo Gemma, Senior Expert at Huawei, and Rapporteur for the working group on ‘guidance and terminology on environment’ within ITU-T Study Group 5, ITU’s standardization expert group for environmental sustainability.
Gemma noted how ITU standards provide energy efficiency metrics, measurement methodologies and smart energy management systems for networks, networking equipment, and data centres.
See ITU’s L.1300 series of standards on energy efficiency, smart energy, and green data centres and L.1400 series of assessment methodologies for digital technologies and carbon-dioxide (CO2) trajectories. Explore all L-series ITU standards.
Climate-ready AI infrastructure
Making tech cleaner and greener reduces reliance on traditional grids and back-up diesel generators, Gemma added, noting that ITU standards specify how smart energy control with AI can help prioritize the intake of power from renewable sources and reduce the need for back-up power. This helps mitigate high or volatile energy costs, as well as enabling companies to reduce their emissions in line with international climate commitments such as the Paris Agreement.
Sustainable networking and AI systems will be vital for long-term climate resilience.
“We need AI-informed prediction systems to help save lives and infrastructure – and we ideally needed those solutions yesterday,” said Claire Monteleoni, Professor of Computer Science at University of Colorado Boulder, currently working as Research Director at INRIA Paris.
“Google, Huawei and other tech companies have shown the revolution in AI for weather forecasting,” she added. “They are able to predict the tracks of hurricanes, with forecasts up to a week earlier than conventional physics-driven models.”
Green Digital Action at COP29
With the latest United Nations climate change conference (COP29) opening on 11 November, ITU and more than 50 partners in Green Digital Action are calling on the whole industry to embrace environmental responsibility.
Azerbaijan – holding the COP29 Presidency – has put digital sustainability at the forefront of the annual climate talks with a dedicated Digitalisation Day on 16 November calling on governments, companies and other stakeholders to endorse the Declaration on Green Digital Action.
Learn more about Green Digital Action
Explore AI for Good Global Summit sessions
Header image credit: ITU
