Will Artificial Intelligence Help Save the Planet? Yes, Say Researchers

A research group is calling on those looking to tackle climate change to shift their focus to technology, expressing the significant potential of taking advantage of the influencing digital age when it comes to a climate-safe world.

Future Earth’s recently published “Digital Disruptions for Sustainability” report was written with the contribution of over 250 tech and environment experts, highlighting that effective climate action will require a change in mindsets, power structures and social rules, through a change in how to use social media, satellite technology and other rapidly-growing digital tools.

“Today we live in a digital age that threatens privacy, human dignity, social justice, the future of democracy, and environmental sustainability,” explains Future Earth Executive Director Amy Luers wrote in the report. “But it is not too late. The potential to leverage the digital age to benefit society and the planet is massive.”

“By accelerating investment and deployment of AI solutions, we have the potential not only to mitigate climate-related risk for our businesses, but to fundamentally transform how we manage Earth’s natural resources for a more prosperous and climate-stable future,” adds Lucas Joppa, an advisor on the report and the chief environment officer at Microsoft, which has pledged earlier this year to cut carbon emissions by more than half by 2030.