There’s no denying that we’ve entered a brave new world of artificial intelligence, as advancements in AI transform almost every aspect of our lives, from the way we shop for essential items to the medical treatments we receive. For me, one of the most promising areas of growth and development is the ways in which AI is driving sustainability, giving people and businesses new tools and technologies to combat the effects of climate change and protect the planet.
Here in the UAE, we’re preparing to host the world’s pre-eminent conference on climate change and sustainability. Commonly referred to as COP28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference will take place at Expo City in Dubai from November 30 to December 12. COP28 UAE is particularly significant as it is the halfway mark to 2030, the Paris Agreement’s target for halving carbon emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2050, compared to pre-industrial levels.
While the world’s brightest minds will converge on Expo City for COP28, it’s a timely reminder for businesses to reassess their own sustainability measures – and the role AI can play in reducing carbon emissions. Here are just some of the ways AI is helping to reshape and redefine sustainability, from enhancing energy efficiency to improving waste reduction.
Real-time analysis
One of AI’s superpowers is its ability to process complex and multifaceted datasets in real time. In 2022, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) launched the World Environment Situation Room (WESR), a digital platform that leverages AI’s capabilities to monitor and inform analysis and future predictions on key environmental issues around the world. These include, but are not limited to, the concentration of atmospheric CO2, changes in glacier mass, and sea level rises. According to a UNEP spokesperson, the aim is for WESR to become a “mission control centre for planet earth, where all of our vital environmental indicators can be seamlessly monitored to drive actions.”
Improving energy efficiency
In an effort to reduce the carbon emissions caused by energy use in buildings and make our “buildings, districts and cities healthier, more sustainable places to live and work”, global design firm Arup has created Neuron. This AI-driven platform harnesses 5G and the Internet of Things sensors to gather and analyse data from buildings’ energy management systems. It then optimises energy usage for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems based on user patterns, which can lead to savings of 10-30 percent of energy in a commercial building. The world’s renewable energy sources are also being optimised via AI, with everything from cloud-tracking platforms that can predict solar power functionality, to improving energy storage and distribution channels.
Reducing water waste
Managing our precious water resources is another area that is benefiting from the use of AI, with a staggering 25 percent of the world’s useable water being lost due to untreated leaks. Water intelligence company WINT has developed a tool that detects leaks and automatically turns them off at the source, helping to stem the flow of unnecessary water wastage.
Guardians of the forest
We’ve long been aware of the crucial role our forests play in improving air quality, reducing CO2, and protecting our planet for future generations. Now, AI is turning trees into future-perfect ‘guardians’, tasked with tracking illegal deforestation and animal poaching. In areas where illegal land clearing and poaching is rampant, nonprofit Rainforest Connection fixes acoustic monitoring software to trees, allowing them to “eavesdrop” on their surroundings. The sensors transmit the forest audio in real-time, which is then analysed for distinct sounds associated with logging or poaching, such as chainsaws and trucks, alerting local authorities to the activity. So far, 600 of these ‘guardian’ devices have been deployed in 35 countries, from the Philippines to Peru.
Waste reduction
In the hospitality industry, great strides are being made in waste reduction, with tools such as Winnow Solutions helping commercial kitchens cut back on their food waste. The AI-powered platform accurately identifies and weighs food waste, helping chefs adjusting their ordering and stock management, helping to combat the 1.3 billion tons of food that is wasted every year.
Inventory management
It’s not only commercial kitchens that can benefit from AI-driven inventory management. Inventory optimisation can help streamline transportation and storage needs for businesses of all sizes, from clothing boutiques to car manufacturers, ensuring they have enough stock to service their customers, without over-committing and wasting inventory – a saving for both the business and the environment.
Savings for the environment and the bottom line
In fact, there are measurable environmental and financial benefits across the board. Recent research by PwC UK explored the economic and environmental impact of AI-driven management across four key sectors – agriculture, water, energy, and transport. The researchers ascertained that using AI for environmental applications could reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent, or 2.4 Gt CO2e, an amount equivalent to the combined 2030 emissions of Australia, Canada, and Japan, while contribute up to $5.2 trillion to the global economy in 2030.
