CleanTech Breakthrough’s Post

Brian Merchant dives into a tough topic: how tech giants, once seen as clean energy leaders, are now playing a part in automating and worsening the climate crisis. It's a sobering look at their role in our planet's future. See article here: https://lnkd.in/eWa-dNgA #ai #genai #climate

#AI represents one of these best hopes of tackling climate change as research shows it could have a transformative effect by scaling proven technologies to reduce global emissions by up to 10% by 2030. That’s the equivalent of the annual greenhouse gas emissions of the European Union. 🍃♻️🏞️💚🌱 Here’s what experts have to say about how businesses can leverage AI and technological innovation to build a more sustainable future. https://goo.gle/48dF6DS #ThinkWithGoogle #sustainability

AI can substantially enhance climate-related adaptation and resilience efforts and shape climate-friendly behaviors. Mitigating GHG emissions has a direct impact on cost reduction efforts as well. #Operations #GenAI #costmanagement https://lnkd.in/dRHSSd6p

Boiling Point: Tech companies clam up about AI’s climate costs https://buff.ly/3TbGdPH #ClimateTech #SustainableInnovation #EcoTech #GreenSolutions #ClimateChangeTechnology #EnvironmentalTech #EcoFriendlyTech #ClimateActionTech #TechForClimate #RenewableTech

According to the article: "Its greenhouse gas emissions were actually around 30 percent higher in fiscal year 2023, showing how hard it could be for the company to meet climate goals as it simultaneously races to be a leader in AI." Microsoft’s AI obsession is jeopardizing its climate ambitions https://lnkd.in/dqXJ2Gxu #sustainableAI #responsibleAI

"The International Energy Agency and other market analysts estimate a doubling of data centers—which power #ai, crypto and cloud computing—in two to 10 years. At that point, data center consumption could go from 1% of global electricity demand to 13%." This is a moment of both breath-taking technological advance and overwhelming environmental urgency, and The Climate Action Against Disinformation coalition, including Global Action Plan, our colleagues at Friends of the Earth U.S. (and especially the indefatigable Michael Khoo) have done a brilliant job in summarising the risks and the action we need to take. There's a notable gap around UK policy - as the EU and the USA move ahead in their different ways. So what can we do? - Write to your MP and other prospective parliamentary candidates, bringing the report to their attention and asking how they intend to regulate. - Talk about it! I'm currently doing some work with HE students on this, and in one small survey, 76% of their peers had no idea that AI had negative impacts for the planet. The fiction of the 'Cloud' - all this happens in a friction-less abstract dematerialised world with no impacts for people and planet - is one of the most pervasive and dangerous of current myths.

Today, in collaboration with our colleagues in the Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD) coalition, Global Action Plan launch a new report exploring the negative impacts of AI on climate action. AI may provide some climate benefits (e.g. enabling energy efficiencies) but its own enormous energy use and potential to turbocharge misinformation mean these benefits will likely be far outweighed by the risks.

The only way we can see progress on climate change is if we act collectively. And the only way we can do that is we have a shared understanding of the problem and the solutions. Climate mis and disinformation have the opposite effect, they pull us apart, but our latest report reveals that AI will shred us into pieces and scatter us the winds. As well as AI being disastrous in terms of carbon emissions. If we are to tackle climate change we must get to grips with this.

Want a good-news story in AI? There are LOTS of them, but here are just a few for today. Profiled by FastCompany last week, check out 6 AI-first initiatives at Google aiming to make the world cleaner and safer. TL/DR: Greenlight - reducing auto emissions by c.10% at busy intersections through traffic optimization. Methaneset - mapping and identifying sources of methane leaks. Contrails (>1/3 of aviation's global warming footprint) - reducing behind-the-plane emissions by up to 54%. Tapestry - supporting electric grids to rapidly run scenarios for switching to renewables. Flood Hub - mapping river floods in high-risk areas up to 7 days in advance. Carbon-free energy by 2030 - Google's target to ensure data centres for AI rely only on clean power. https://lnkd.in/eNjmNfS2

Exploring the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in tackling climate change, enhancing energy efficiency, and reducing emissions. This article delves into how AI technologies offer innovative solutions for environmental sustainability. https://lnkd.in/eX7WGWFi #ArtificialIntelligence #ClimateChange #EnergyEfficiency #EmissionsReduction