The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is ushering in transformative changes across multiple sectors, including climate action. AI and machine learning technologies are increasingly becoming pivotal in environmental science, fostering the development of more sustainable practices and cleaner energy solutions.
One significant example of AI's application in climate monitoring is the innovative system developed by Google Maps and Google Earth researchers. This AI platform, known as Cloud Score+, is designed to enhance the clarity and detail of satellite imagery, particularly in areas consistently obscured by cloud cover. The system effectively addresses previous challenges in cloud and shadow detection that hampered accurate environmental monitoring.
Valerie Pasquarella, a Geo Sustainability Research Scientist at Google, explained the system's capabilities. "When you're trying to get a clear view of the Earth's surface from space, clouds (and their shadows) can get in the way," she mentioned in a Newsweek interview. Cloud Score+ employs advanced video AI techniques to assess the clarity of each pixel within satellite images, selecting only the highest quality pixels for comprehensive visualization and analysis.
This AI-powered technology is already making a difference in some of the world's cloudiest regions. For instance, in Ecuador's Imbabura Province—a region known for its persistent cloud cover and challenging terrain—Google has collaborated with local authorities to produce improved, cloud-free images. These enhanced visual resources now support the region's designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark, allowing for better environmental understanding and management.
Such applications are crucial, especially in monitoring vulnerable ecosystems like tropical rainforests, which are crucial carbon sinks. These forests, located in Africa, Asia, and South America, are vital in mitigating climate change effects. However, they face significant threats from illegal activities and climate change impacts. AI-enhanced clear imagery aids ecologists and land managers in combating these threats by providing a more accurate view of the affected regions.
Cloud Score+ is also deployed for various other ecological purposes. It aids in identifying cloud-free pixels for forest monitoring, assessing plant health in peatlands, and mapping tree species for sustainable forest management. Additional projects harness AI to improve climate impact monitoring in developed areas, including advancements in wildfire detection, flood prediction, and urban heat resilience.
Despite these benefits, AI's environmental impact isn't entirely positive. The boom in AI technology, driven in part by companies like Google, has led to an increase in carbon emissions, primarily due to the energy demands of expanding data centres. Google, under its parent company Alphabet, has been recognised as a green enterprise, yet its recent sustainability reports indicate a rise in emissions, revealing the complex dual role AI plays in environmental issues.
This topic was explored at a Newsweek Horizons event held in New York City during Climate Week, titled "AI: Climate Hero or Climate Villain?". The panel featured experts from the technology, energy, and academic sectors. Among them was Priya Donti, an assistant professor at MIT and co-founder of Climate Change AI. Donti highlighted both the opportunities and challenges AI presents in the context of climate action.
According to Donti, AI can aid in predicting and adapting to climate impacts, such as aiding flood predictions in Fiji and developing materials for clean energy technologies. Conversely, AI is also employed in fossil fuel exploitation and promotes mass consumerism, which aligns poorly with environmental progress.
In summary, AI stands as a powerful tool with the potential to either enhance or hinder climate action, depending on its deployment. The responsibility rests with people and organisations to steer AI towards positive environmental solutions. As Donti aptly put it, "AI is an accelerator of what we do across society. If we're serious about fighting climate change, it will be a hero. If we're not, it's going to be a villain."
Source: Noah Wire Services