AI can assist Nigeria, others to tackle climate change, say experts

Experts have submitted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can assist countries, especially the developing ones, in tackling climate change.

Referencing a new report from AI for Planet Alliance, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and BCG GAMMA, the specialists observed a strong appetite for the deployment of robotics in tackling global warming, yet organisations encounter problems in achieving impact at scale.

The document, while reiterating the phenomenon’s significant impacts on environmental, social, political and economic systems globally, it, however, stressed that climate change mitigation, along with adaptation and resilience, was crucial.

According to the report, moves to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 are essential, since the will to address the consequences and minimise harms exists.

During a webinar, organised at the weekend, by AI for the Planet, where the report was dissected, the professionals submitted that applying advanced analytics and AI to climate challenges provides a vital way to make meaningful change at this critical moment.

Titled, ‘How AI can be a powerful tool in the fight against climate change, the document said 87 per cent of leaders support the exploitation of advanced analytics to contain the challenge.

Managing Director/Partner at BCG and BCG GAMMA as well as co-author of the report, Hamid Maher, said: “Artificial Intelligence’s unique capacity to gather, complete and interpret large and complex data sets means it can help stakeholders take a more informed and data-driven approach to combat carbon emissions and address climate risks.”

He was quick to add that most existing AI-related climate solutions were scattered and tended to be difficult to access, besides the lack of resources to scale.

These shortcomings, Maher argued need to change.

Citing survey of over 1,000 executives with decision-making authority on AI or climate-change initiatives, the report found that roughly 40 per cent of organisations could envision using machine learning for their climate efforts.

Still, the experts widely disagree that significant barriers to broad adoption remain in place, with 78 per cent of respondents citing insufficient AI expertise as an obstacle, 77 per cent mentioning limited AI solutions as a roadblock, and 67 per cent pointing to a lack of confidence in AI-related data and analysis.

Also speaking, founder of AI for the Planet and co-author, Damien Gromier, restated that AI has a strong promise to solve the climate crisis, noting that the technology, alone, is not enough.

“It depends on the will of decision-makers to act and make necessary changes – supported in part by Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies,” he added.

Citing cases of the use of Artificial Intelligence in combating climate change, the report noted mitigation. Here, it stressed that one of the most critical uses of Artificial Intelligence is in the measurement, reduction, and removal of emissions and greenhouse gas (GHG) effects.