Simply put, AI is an effort to create machines that can learn from their experiences, recognize patterns, and make predictions better than any computer has ever done before. We can now use this technology to provide governments, businesses, and citizens with the tools they need to effect systemic change, such as meeting the climate challenge.
Here are five ways our partners and we are using artificial intelligence to help reduce emissions, protect nature, and create cleaner environments:
Helping communities to predict and prepare for natural disasters
Climate change is already having an impact on communities around the world, with natural disasters affecting millions of people each year. Predicting, preparing for, and responding to these crises can save lives.
AI can now assist us in predicting the path of hurricanes, typhoons, and floods, allowing us to share forecasts and advice on how to stay safe on SOS Alerts and Maps. And, by combining satellite imagery with AI analysis, we can identify which areas require assistance after a disaster has occurred, allowing rescue organizations to quickly reach those in need.
Global wildlife population recovery
The importance of restoring global wildlife has never been greater, and that is precisely the goal of Wildlife Insights. The tool employs artificial intelligence to assist conservationists and nonprofits in better tracking, understanding, and sharing information about wildlife populations.
Camera traps are used by conservationists to monitor wildlife populations. However, a single camera can capture hundreds of thousands of images per month, and processing and analyzing them is time-consuming and inefficient.
This is where Wildlife Insights can help. It analyses and classifies each photo using AI, allowing users to instantly filter to see only photos of a specific species or location.
And, using Google Cloud, various organizations from around the world are uploading, storing, and sharing their findings on the platform, breaking down silos and assisting in the global assessment. ZSL is using Wildlife Insights to track endemic species in the Philippines, while the WWF and UNDP are assisting in the construction of a wildlife corridor for jaguars in Columbia.
Cleaning up the fashion industry’s supply chain
The fashion industry is one of the most significant contributors to the global climate crisis, with much of its impact occurring at the raw materials stage of the supply chain, such as when cotton is farmed or trees are felled. When brands source these materials, however, they frequently have little visibility into their environmental impact.
Enter the Global Fibre Impact Explorer, a tool developed in collaboration with Stella McCartney, NGIS, Textile Exchange, and WWF Sweden to provide businesses with the information they need to make more sustainable sourcing decisions.
The tool, which will be formally launched later this year, will use Google Cloud and Earth Engine to assist brands in identifying the environmental risks of over 20 fibers and providing recommendations for risk-reduction activities, including opportunities to collaborate with local communities.
Assisting in the preparation for extreme heat
Cities all over the world are attempting to reduce ‘heat islands,’ or areas of a city that become especially hot during a heat wave. Heat islands are caused by their surroundings and result in poor air quality, dehydration, and other public health issues.
Tree Canopy, a component of Environmental Insights Explorer, employs aerial imagery and artificial intelligence to assist local governments in identifying heat islands and planning tree coverage to combat them. The tool, which is now being rolled out to nearly 350 additional cities worldwide, has already been used in the United States to plant trees in vulnerable areas and parkways, as well as to place bus stops in tree-shaded areas.
Giving you more environmentally friendly options
You’re probably already using artificial intelligence to reduce your carbon footprint without even realizing it. Google Maps uses AI to recommend the best walking or cycling routes, as well as the most fuel-efficient routes for trips that require driving. We’re now using AI to recommend the best charging stop for you based on factors like current traffic, your charge level, and expected consumption for electric vehicle drivers with Google built-in.
Since 2011, Google’s Nest Thermostats have saved over 120 billion Kwh of energy, which is enough to power one million electric vehicles for over 320,000 miles. The thermostat employs artificial intelligence to learn user schedules and adjust the heat accordingly, even turning it off when you’re away.
