Harnessing AI for a Sustainable Future: Opportunities and Challenges
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Chapter 1: Understanding AI's Role in Sustainability
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is frequently discussed in today’s technological landscape, often perceived as just a trendy term. However, it represents a robust technology capable of mimicking human capabilities such as perception, decision-making, predictive analytics, pattern recognition, interactive communication, and logical reasoning.
As AI creates numerous possibilities, its applications can be diverse, yielding both positive and negative impacts on sustainability. This duality arises because sustainability encompasses environmental, economic, and social dimensions that can sometimes conflict.
The UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) encapsulate these dimensions, aiming to safeguard the planet, eradicate poverty, and promote global peace and prosperity by 2030. To facilitate these goals, they are divided into 169 specific targets. AI has the potential to support all SDGs and many of their associated targets.
Navigating the Good Future: Understanding the Role of AI in Shaping Our World
This video explores how AI technologies can help us navigate toward a sustainable future by supporting various Sustainable Development Goals.
Section 1.1: Societal Contributions of AI
One of AI’s primary contributions to sustainability is its beneficial societal impact. A total of 67 targets (82%) within the society-oriented SDGs can gain from AI technologies.
SDG 1: Eradicating Poverty
AI can play a crucial role in poverty alleviation. For instance, one target is to "eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere by 2030," which is currently defined as living on less than $1.25 per day. In 2020, almost half of the global population survived on under $2.50 daily, with 1.3 billion people below the $1.25 threshold. AI can be utilized to assess development rates via satellite imagery and pinpoint impoverished regions, using indicators such as nighttime light visibility.
In this video, further examples illustrate how AI can combat poverty:
- Evaluating the effectiveness of anti-poverty initiatives (1:36–2:09)
- Enhancing agricultural output (2:09–3:07, also related to SDG 2)
- Anticipating natural disasters to mitigate poverty risks (3:07–4:08)
- Improving educational access to uplift individuals above the poverty line (4:08–4:42)
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
AI can also contribute to achieving zero hunger. A target under this goal is to "double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers by 2030." This is vital as the global population grows and food demand increases. AI can assist farmers in optimizing yields with reduced water usage.
This video elaborates on this topic, presenting additional methods AI can address hunger:
- Streamlining food distribution networks (1:21–1:50)
- Proactively identifying famine risks to implement timely solutions (1:50–2:25)
SDG 3: Health and Well-being
AI's impact extends to health and well-being. One target is to "reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030." AI can help in identifying the right medications for complex health issues.
In this video, you can learn more about AI's contributions to health:
- Helping polio survivors regain mobility (0:46–1:18)
- Forecasting illnesses through pattern recognition (1:22–1:55)
- Analyzing traffic data to prevent accidents (1:56–2:13)
Section 1.2: Economic Contributions of AI
The second way AI bolsters sustainability is through its positive economic influence. A total of 42 targets (70%) within the economic-focused SDGs benefit from AI technologies.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
AI can significantly enhance resource efficiency in production and consumption. For example, it can optimize services such as transportation and energy distribution.
In this video, discover how AI enhances economic growth and resource use:
- Reducing car accidents through autonomous driving technology (2:16–2:38)
- Improving educational efficiency (3:10–3:36)
SDG 9: Innovation and Infrastructure
AI also fuels continuous innovation in daily life, such as through navigation systems in vehicles.
This video discusses several applications of AI in innovation:
- Self-driving vehicles (1:19–2:01)
- Enhancing customer service through chatbots (5:31–6:05)
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
AI can identify social inequalities, provided the training data is unbiased. Otherwise, it risks perpetuating existing disparities.
Chapter 2: Environmental Impacts of AI
Artificial intelligence also contributes significantly to environmental sustainability. A total of 25 targets (93%) related to the environment benefit from AI technologies.
SDG 13: Climate Action
AI can help predict climate-related hazards.
In this video, learn how AI aids in understanding rainfall patterns to manage extreme weather events:
- Predicting extreme rainfall (0:00–2:25)
SDG 14: Life Below Water
AI technologies can assist in marine research, including monitoring coral reef health with intelligent robots.
In this video, the role of AI in ocean health is explored:
- Marine exploration using AI robots (0:00–1:29)
Conclusion
In summary, artificial intelligence has the potential to support all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. However, ensuring high-quality, unbiased input data is crucial; otherwise, AI could exacerbate inequalities instead of alleviating them.
Taking Action
Here are some actionable steps individuals can take to support the Sustainable Development Goals:
- Assist those who have fallen into poverty.
- Minimize food waste to benefit those in need.
- Support mental health initiatives.
- Promote gender equality in decision-making.
- Conserve water to avoid scarcity.
- Utilize solar energy to contribute to renewable resources.
- Reduce urban pollution by opting for public transportation.
- Practice responsible consumption.
- Collaborate globally to share knowledge.
- Properly dispose of waste to protect marine environments.
- Engage in citizen-science efforts to support biodiversity research.
Do you have any additional suggestions for contributing to these goals? Please share your ideas in the comments to inspire others!
Credit
This article is based on:
Vinuesa, R. et al. (2020). The role of artificial intelligence in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Nature communications, 11(1), 1–10.