The Potential of AI in Driving the Climate Revolution
Unlocking a climate revolution with AI - harnessing its power to accelerate solutions and revolutionize climate research, paving the way for a sustainable future
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In central India, tomato growers are growing more concerned about the unpredictable weather patterns that have been affecting the region. Over the past ten years, the area has suffered from frequent and severe droughts, resulting in substantial crop damage and negatively impacting the local farmers' livelihoods.
ClimateAi, a Silicon Valley startup, is creating an artificial intelligence platform to assess the impact of increasing temperatures on crop vulnerability. The platform utilizes climate, water, and soil data of specific locations to determine the future viability of agricultural landscapes. In 2021, ClimateAi conducted one of its initial case studies in Maharashtra, India, allowing farmers to input their crop and planting location into the app for analysis.
ClimateAi utilized the data to conduct simulations, determining that the region would experience a 30% decrease in tomato output over the next two decades due to extreme heat and drought. This prompted the company to advise growers to revise their strategies. As a result, tomato producers adjusted their business plans by adopting more climate-resilient seed varieties and altering planting times. Himanshu Gupta, co-founder of ClimateAi, noted that this adaptation process, which used to take a while, can now be done in a matter of minutes, resulting in significant cost savings for farmers impacted by climate change.
Gupta told CNN that AI is seen as a tool to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of solutions for climate change. Utilizing AI technologies to better predict future risks for agriculture is just one example of how they are being leveraged to tackle the climate crisis.
AI first burst into the public's consciousness this year, with the emergence of popular AI tools like ChatGPT. Experts predict that this technology will revolutionize numerous industries. Climate researchers have long been exploring how AI - computer programs capable of swiftly analyzing vast amounts of data and performing complex tasks in a manner resembling human cognition - could aid in comprehending and addressing climate change.
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According to experts, AI is expected to speed up efforts to reduce pollution and enhance weather forecasting models.
"AI excels in optimizing decisions and resources, leading to increased efficiency," remarked Fengqi You, chair professor at Cornell University's engineering school. "Its strong predictive capabilities can be incredibly beneficial in various fields, from understanding small-scale molecules to addressing broader climate systems in our fight against climate change."
The rapid pace of global warming underscores the urgent need to accelerate the deployment and implementation of solutions. However, despite the potential of AI, the infrastructure supporting the technology, such as energy-intensive data centers, poses an environmental challenge. Experts emphasize the importance of collaboration between software engineers and climate scientists to address this balance.
"This trade-off is definitely something that needs to be taken into account," noted Kara Lamb, an associate research scientist at Columbia University's earth and environmental engineering department. Nonetheless, "the benefits outweigh the drawbacks when applied to these types of strategies."
An artificial intelligence platform developed by ClimateAi is helping tomato growers in India adapt to extreme weather.
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Technology that speeds up discovery
Artificial intelligence encompasses a wide range of digital tools that are trained to perform complex tasks, eliminating the need for human input. These technologies are adept at processing and uncovering connections among large amounts of diverse data, making them well-suited for tasks such as forecasting and running simulations. Unlike traditional computer programs, AI tools can continually improve and adapt as new data becomes available or as they receive feedback on the quality of their outputs.
Gone are the days when scientific discovery depended solely on human capacity to collect, observe, and analyze evidence. With the advent of technology, computers are now capable of processing massive datasets, identifying patterns, and conducting digital experiments in a fraction of the time required by human researchers.
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"The climate models were aimed at solving these equations... the interactions of these atmospheric models are complex, and it takes a significant amount of time to solve," you explained. In the same way, research into new energy-conducting materials, such as those for solar panels, may entail countless hours of testing, which can now be accelerated with the use of AI.
"Previously, people relied on trial and error, and we required researchers to work tirelessly day and night," you remarked. "Now, with the introduction of AI, which operates without the need for rest and only requires electric power, it has the potential to work around the clock and greatly expedite the process of discovery."
AI may not completely eliminate the necessity for humans in the battle against climate change. However, it has the ability to enhance the speed and effectiveness of their work.
Researchers, such as Dan Keeler, the chief communication officer at impact investing firm Newday, are utilizing AI to identify the optimal locations for replanting seagrass in order to restore coastlines. The AI algorithm takes various factors into account, including water toxins, shipping routes, and the potential impact on sea life and coastal tourism, to effectively address the issue.
"Its very difficult to put all those together into a single model with conventional methods, but AI actually makes that much more possible," Keeler said.
AI doing the dirty work in climate research
The Arctic is experiencing a rapid warming rate, four times faster than the global average, leading to the melting of sea ice, thawing of permafrost, and an increase in wildfires in this typically cold region. Climate experts consider the Arctic a key indicator for global climate change, yet current climate models are failing to accurately capture the speed of its warming.
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Through the use of AI, scientist Anna Liljedahl from the Woodwell Climate Research Center is able to produce permafrost forecasts on a seasonal timescale, rather than the traditional 100-year timescale. This provides her and fellow researchers with a more accurate understanding of the rate at which the Arctic is melting.
Liljedahl explained to CNN, "AI is handling the heavy lifting. However, AI isn't flawless, so we view it as an initial tool, with human intervention afterwards to thoroughly verify and delve into the suggestions made by AI."
AI technology can be utilized for various solutions. In a 2019 Google DeepMind project, an AI model was trained using weather forecasts and historical wind turbine data to predict the availability of wind power, ultimately increasing the value of renewable energy for wind farmers. Furthermore, AI can assist in forecasting the timing and location of peak energy demand, enabling grid operators to ensure power availability to meet demand and minimize waste. Keeler remarked, "make sure they have power online, ready to supply demand, and also that they dont have power thats just being produced and its going to be consumed, because thats obviously a tremendous waste."
Artificial intelligence can be used to help better predict the supply and demand for renewable energy sources.
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Gupta stated that the challenge lies in integrating renewable capacity into the current fossil fuel-driven grid. AI can identify available renewable energy sources in real-time, optimizing consumer demand and supply for renewables in desired areas. Additionally, AI is being utilized to research materials for effectively recapturing carbon from the atmosphere and to model and forecast major floods, aiding local government agencies in emergency preparedness and response.
Media company The Cool Down is preparing to release an AI tool early next year that will assist users in understanding and implementing sustainable lifestyle changes. The tool, based on user data, will provide information on various climate-related topics and answer questions such as "What can I do with my old jeans?" or "Where should I start if I want to switch my laundry detergent?" Co-founder Anna Robertson emphasized the company's mission to offer solutions and alleviate the overwhelming nature of the climate crisis, stating, "We want to make it easier for people to make better choices."
Finding the right balance
Unfortunately, all this computational power comes with a downside: Running artificial intelligence models requires a lot of energy, and many data centers are located in areas that still heavily depend on fossil fuels, according to Cornells You. Moreover, data centers also rely on water for cooling, which is a scarce resource in some of the regions where this computing is being conducted, such as the American West.
At present, the energy used to power AI is relatively modest when compared to the consumption of transportation or buildings. However, there is a growing concern about the exponential growth of AI energy consumption, and caution is urged. According to a study by Dutch researcher Alex de Vries in October, it is estimated that in a "worst-case scenario," Google's AI systems could consume as much electricity as the entire country of Ireland each year, assuming full-scale adoption of AI in their current hardware and software. The study advises developers to not only focus on optimizing AI, but also critically consider the necessity of using AI in the first place, as not all applications will benefit from AI and the benefits may not always outweigh the costs.
Data center operators like Google are already thinking about how to reduce the resources needed to power the computing behind their AI models.
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Some data center operators are already beginning to address these concerns.
Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing division of the online retail giant, has committed to achieving a "water positive" status by 2030. This means that the company aims to give back more water to the communities where its data centers are located than it consumes. According to CEO Adam Selipsky, in an interview with CNN in October, the goal is to have a positive impact on water resources.
One example of this commitment is seen in Oregon, where AWS is facing drought conditions. In response, the company is repurposing the water used to cool its data centers and providing it to local farmers for irrigation, free of charge. This initiative aims to support the community and minimize the environmental impact of its operations.
You suggested that companies building and operating data centers for AI workloads should consider strategically locating them in areas with lower natural resource requirements. For instance, placing data centers in colder regions would reduce the need for water for cooling. Scandinavia, with its ample supply of renewable energy sources, has become a favored location for data centers.
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Lawmakers in the United States and abroad have recently focused on developing regulations for AI, considering both its potential benefits in fighting climate change and its environmental impact. This controversial climate solution could either be the planet's saving grace, or lead to a colossal disaster.
"Regulators, decision makers, and policymakers need to take this into consideration when assessing the expansion of the AI industry," You emphasized. "The growth of the industry extends beyond just software and tools, but also includes the way data centers are managed."
Tech professionals further warn that AI must be made economical and available to low-income nations, especially those in the Global South that are at the forefront of the climate crisis but have the least impact on global pollution. This is a concern that Gupta aims to tackle as he expands ClimateAis resources.
Gupta discussed the potential of AI in addressing climate change, stating that we have only begun to tap into the impact it could have on businesses and humanity as a whole.
