New tools like ChatGPT have generated a lot of interest in artificial intelligence in the last few months. But AI-powered technology is already playing a big role in our lives and economies.
While AI has been concerned about its potential downsides (which could lead to job loss, project bias, and abuse), it is also a powerful tool for addressing global crises such as climate change. Advertised.
It’s hard to say exactly how big a difference this rapidly advancing technology can make to the emissions cuts needed to prevent global warming from running amok. One study estimates that AI applications in agriculture, water, energy and transportation could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4% by 2030. This corresponds to the combined annual emissions of Australia, Canada and Japan. .
AI is indeed a valuable tool, says David Rolnick, assistant professor of computer science at McGill University in Canada and co-founder of the nonprofit Climate Change AI. But he stresses that “AI is not some kind of silver bullet, nor is it more valuable than other traditional tools for combating climate change.”
Here are six ways we are using to help the environment.
Saving Trees with AI “Guardian”
Deforestation and land-use change are responsible for over 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and store it for long periods of time, but when trees are cut, much of that carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
To curb illegal clearing, the nonprofit Rainforest Connection attaches acoustic monitoring sensors to trees to “listen in” on the surrounding forest and transmit the audio in real time to the cloud.
The data is analyzed by machine learning models trained to recognize sounds associated with illegal logging, such as chainsaws and trucks. An alert is then sent to ground authorities.
About 600 of these devices, called “Guardians,” have been installed in 35 countries, from Brazil to Indonesia to Congo to the Philippines, according to the nonprofit’s website. Covering over 400,000 hectares of land, he claims to have collected over 107 million minutes of audio data.
According to recent reports, by authorizing the authorities to use AI tools Governments could save about 29 gigatonnes of emissions by 2030 to avoid rainforest destruction. For comparison, his energy-related CO2 emissions will reach around 37 gigatonnes globally in 2022.
Reducing the carbon footprint of steel
Materials such as steel and cement are important building blocks in construction. But they are also big emitters of his CO2, so decarbonizing these industries is a priority. Steel production alone accounts for about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing sector. Most of this share comes from the extraction and transportation of raw materials used in the production process.
US company Fero Labs is working with five US steel plants and AI to reduce the amount of raw materials (or alloys) mined by up to a third. Fero Labs’ AI-driven optimization software learns from historical data to recommend the minimum amount of new additional material (if any) that should be added.
According to a report by the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, Fero Labs has an estimated 450,000 tons of CO2 emissions years by skipping the mining, smelting, and transportation of these alloys. The report estimates that the US industry as a whole could save 11.9 million tons of CO2 annually. That’s about a quarter of New York City’s annual carbon footprint.
Reducing energy waste in buildings
In Hong Kong, energy use in buildings accounts for about 60% of the city’s carbon emissions. A financial hub of 7.5 million people, he is one of the most densely populated places in the world.
About a quarter of total electricity consumption comes from heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial buildings.
Design firm Arup has created an app called Neuron that uses 5G and IoT sensors to collect real-time data from a building’s energy management system. Algorithms are then used to analyze this data, optimize heating and cooling systems, and predict future energy demands of buildings. According to the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence report, these adjustments can save 10-30% of the energy used in a typical commercial building.
Combat poaching with algorithms
Rhino numbers declined throughout the 20th century due to poaching and habitat destruction. Most species are now considered endangered and survive mainly in reserves and reserves, but their horns are still targeted.
South Africa-based company Rouxcel Technology has developed an AI-enabled bracelet that fits over a rhino’s ankle. This allows conservation teams to easily locate rhinos and monitor their behavior in real time.
The company’s algorithms use machine learning to identify when animals exhibit unusual movement patterns. This is a signal that the animal may be in distress, such as when poachers are nearby. It then sends an alert to the Wildlife Operations Center and Anti-Poaching Team. Devices are in use at sites ranging from Kenya to South Africa.
smart farming
Agriculture is vulnerable to climate change, with unpredictable temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events and invasive pests all posing risks to crop yields.
At the same time, the agricultural sector itself contributes to the problem. Agriculture, forestry and land use account for about 18% of his global CO2 emissions. And then there’s the fact that agricultural irrigation accounts for 70% of water use worldwide. Fertilizers and pesticides used in fields can also find their way into groundwater and nearby rivers.
Germany-based startup Agvolution has developed an AI system that uses data from solar-powered sensors that monitor the microclimate around crops. Devices measure field temperature, humidity, radiation and soil moisture, and algorithms use these insights to make precise recommendations about plant health and the exact amount of water and fertilizer to use. This improves yield and reduces wasted resources. According to the company, this will improve eco-efficiency and economic efficiency by up to 40%.
The Sun is Coming: Drawing Clouds Using a Computer
Increasing renewable energy is an important step in the transition away from fossil fuels. However, as clean energy sources such as solar light make up a large portion of the energy mix, ensuring grid stability is becoming more difficult.
When clouds move over the solar panels, the power supply can drop suddenly. This is a problem for network operators trying to balance their grids and prevent outages. To fill the gap, a backup power supply should run in the background that can be quickly brought up when there is a risk of power shortage. And these reserves usually come from fossil fuels.
The nonprofit Open Climate Fix has partnered with the UK’s National Grid to use AI to understand exactly how clouds evolve. The goal is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel resources.
Open Climate Fix is also piloting forecast models in two countries in Southern Europe and is in negotiations to pilot in Asia.
