New Report Urges Governments to Leverage AI for Climate Action
A comprehensive report presented at COP26 outlines 48 recommendations for policymakers to accelerate net-zero goals using artificial intelligence while managing the technology's environmental risks.
A new report presented at COP26 by the Centre for AI & Climate and Climate Change AI urges governments to recognize artificial intelligence as a crucial tool for reaching net-zero emissions. Commissioned by the Global Partnership on AI, the document offers 48 specific recommendations to help policymakers support AI applications that tackle climate challenges and mitigate the environmental risks associated with AI itself.
The report highlights several successful real-world applications of this technology to demonstrate its potential impact. For example, National Grid ESO uses AI to double the accuracy of its electricity demand forecasts, while the UN Satellite Centre employs machine learning to deliver rapid flood reports. Additionally, the Climate TRACE coalition leverages thousands of satellites and sensors powered by AI algorithms to drastically improve the transparency and accuracy of global emissions monitoring.
Despite these successes, the authors identify critical bottlenecks that slow down the adoption of AI-for-climate solutions. To overcome these hurdles, the report calls on governments to improve data ecosystems in vital sectors like energy, increase targeted funding and infrastructure for innovation, and ensure that climate change remains a central consideration in broader national AI strategies.