Artificial Intelligence and Climate Chan

Pre-reqs: N/A.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic. Over 200 million people now use ChatGPT each month, tens of billions of dollars have poured into AI projects over the past year, and policymakers around the world are considering how best to respond to AI’s rapid growth.

At the same time, countries are grappling with the urgent challenge of climate change. Based on global average temperatures, July 22, 2024, was the warmest day ever recorded; 2023 was the warmest year ever recorded; and the 10 warmest years on record are the last 10 years. Despite encouraging developments, such as the dramatic drop in renewable energy costs over the past decade, global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.

Can AI help reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Will the increased power demand for AI result in more emissions, offsetting any benefits? Can AI aid in climate change adaptation? Should policymakers encourage AI use to combat climate change while discouraging AI applications that may increase emissions? If so, how?

This advanced seminar will explore these questions. After an introductory session on core AI concepts, we will examine how AI could reduce emissions and aid adaptation to climate change, as well as the ways AI could contribute to increased emissions. We will discuss barriers to using AI in climate action, risks associated with AI in this context, policy options to address these risks and barriers, and strategies for stakeholders to collaborate in leveraging AI tools to combat climate change.