Mitigating climate change and preserving biodiversity: Several ways AI can be used to help the environment

Artificial Intelligence and its Role in Mitigating Climate Change

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to automate various aspects of human life. Experts believe that AI will play a crucial role in efforts to mitigate climate change and preserve the environment. AI technology is already integrated into everyday life, from facial recognition on smartphones to search algorithms. As AI advances, it has the potential to compile, compute, and analyze vast amounts of data in minutes, which would have previously required significant human effort. While concerns about data protection and job displacement exist in other sectors, experts argue that AI will only benefit those advocating for environmental change.

Karen Panetta, a professor of computer science and dean for graduate education at Tufts University’s School of Engineering, explains that AI enables humans to better perceive and comprehend trends, make new discoveries, and expand our knowledge of the universe. This processing power can facilitate environmental actions necessary to combat issues like global warming and biodiversity loss.

Detecting Permafrost Melting in the Arctic

The Arctic has experienced four times faster warming than the rest of the Earth since 1979, according to a study published in Communications Earth & Environment in 2022. The melting of permafrost in the Arctic poses risks to Arctic species, increases the possibility of pollution and environmental disasters, and threatens human lives. To address this, Google has granted $5 million to the Woodwell Climate Research Center to develop an open-access resource that uses AI and satellite technology to track permafrost thaw in real-time. This tool will provide crucial information to residents living on Arctic permafrost, helping them plan for their safety and enabling policymakers to make informed decisions on greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

AI technology, similar to facial recognition, can map out hidden features like ice-wedge polygons beneath the ground. These features are not easily detectable by satellites. By analyzing indirect signals, AI can help identify areas at risk of collapse due to intense permafrost melting. The tracking tool will utilize large datasets that would overwhelm regular computers.

Ensuring the World’s Food Supply

The agricultural industry is heavily impacted by climate change, which jeopardizes the world’s food supply. AI can help mitigate these challenges by making food production more efficient and reducing its carbon footprint. AI technologies can optimize fertilizer placement, preventing underuse or overuse. Variable rate technology estimates fertilizer needs based on soil and yield maps, allowing farmers to adjust fertilizer application based on soil health and productivity. Real-time yield maps provide immediate feedback on field management and profitability.

AI can also improve irrigation efficiency by using cameras and image recognition technology to analyze field conditions. Farmers can identify areas that require more moisture, reducing water usage and improving irrigation precision. These advancements in AI enable precise and sustainable farming practices.

Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions throughout the Supply Chain

AI can play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions along the entire supply chain. By identifying emission sources and optimizing operations, AI can help businesses and their supply chain partners manage their carbon footprint. Unprocessed data extraction, previously done manually, can now be automated using AI, making carbon accounting more efficient and accessible to smaller businesses. AI can also optimize manufacturing processes, resulting in utility cost savings and reduced emissions.

Preserving the World’s Oceans

AI can contribute to preserving the health of the world’s oceans by enhancing underwater exploration and monitoring. Image enhancement algorithms developed for underwater robots enable humans to see underwater with clarity and accuracy. This technology can be used for search and rescue missions, studying marine species, and monitoring underwater farms for aquaculture and biofuel production. AI can also assist in determining optimal locations for the installation of communication pipelines and offshore wind farms, minimizing their impact on sensitive ecosystems.

Furthermore, AI can track marine life, allowing for better understanding of migration patterns and reducing human interference in activities such as fishing and aquaculture.

Source: ABC News

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
• Target 13.5: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Indicator: Increase in the use of AI technology to compile, compute, and analyze data for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices
• Target 2.5: Maintain genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants, farmed and domesticated animals, and their related wild species
• Indicator: Use of AI technology to optimize fertilizer placement, irrigation, and yield mapping in agriculture

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
• Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade technological capabilities, and promote innovation
• Indicator: Use of AI technology to identify and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions along the supply chain

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems
• Target 14.7: Increase the economic benefits to small island developing states and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources
• Indicator: Use of AI technology to study marine species, monitor underwater ecosystems, and optimize the placement of offshore structures

Analysis

1. The SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 14: Life Below Water.

2. Specific targets under those SDGs based on the article’s content are:

– Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

– Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

– Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.

– Target 13.5: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

– Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.

– Target 2.5: Maintain genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants, farmed and domesticated animals, and their related wild species.

– Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.

– Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade technological capabilities, and promote innovation.

– Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems.

– Target 14.7: Increase the economic benefits to small island developing states and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources.

3. Indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets are:

– Increase in the use of AI technology to compile, compute, and analyze data for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts (related to SDG 13).

– Use of AI technology to optimize fertilizer placement, irrigation, and yield mapping in agriculture (related to SDG 2).

– Use of AI technology to identify and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions along the supply chain (related to SDG 9).

– Use of AI technology to study marine species, monitor underwater ecosystems, and optimize the placement of offshore structures (related to SDG 14).

4. Table presenting the findings:

| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |

|—————————|——————————————————————————————————————————-|—————————————————————————————————————————————-|

| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters | Increase in the use of AI technology to compile, compute, and analyze data for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts |

| | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | |

| | Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation | |

| | Target 13.5: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts | |

| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices | Use of AI technology to optimize fertilizer placement, irrigation, and yield mapping in agriculture |

| | Target 2.5: Maintain genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants, farmed and domesticated animals, and their related species | |

| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable | Use of AI technology to identify and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions along the supply chain |

| | Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade technological capabilities, and promote innovation | |

| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems | Use of AI technology to study marine species, monitor underwater ecosystems, and optimize the placement of offshore structures |

| | Target 14.7: Increase the economic benefits to small island developing states and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources | |

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: abcnews.go.com

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