The carbon footprint of artificial intelligence and its role in combating climate change
While AI systems are criticized for the energy consumption of data centers, experts emphasize that the technology can serve as a climate tool in renewable energy optimization.
While artificial intelligence is at the center of climate debates due to the growing carbon footprint of data centers, experts note that this technology can be a significant tool in combating climate change in areas such as renewable energy optimization, weather forecasting, and emissions tracking.
Carbon footprint of data centers
The growing carbon footprint of data centers powering artificial intelligence technologies has become a major focal point in climate discussions.
This important topic is also planned to be addressed at the COP31 climate summit to be held in Turkey next month.
Potential in combating climate change
Environmental impacts and concerns about technology can sometimes overshadow artificial intelligence's strong potential in the fight against climate change.
However, artificial intelligence is utilized in many areas such as tracking industrial emissions, optimizing renewable energy, and improving weather forecasts.
Energy efficiency and electrical grids
International Energy Agency expert Siddharth Singh states that while data centers create energy challenges, artificial intelligence presents opportunities when used correctly.
According to International Energy Agency data, the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence across the economy could provide significant energy savings by the year 2035.
Meteorology and rapid weather forecasts
Florian Pappenberger, director at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, states that artificial intelligence makes weather forecasts much faster and cheaper compared to traditional methods.
Additionally, Google systems have reached the capacity to predict river floods up to seven days in advance in more than one hundred and fifty countries.
Tracking greenhouse gas emissions
The combined use of satellite technologies and artificial intelligence makes it easier to track greenhouse gas emissions originating from individual facilities.
Gavin McCormick, co-founder of Climate TRACE, emphasizes that emission tracking and inventory creation processes have significantly improved thanks to artificial intelligence.
Fossil fuel production and balances
Maria Joao Sousa, director at Climate Change AI, points out that artificial intelligence has long been used by oil and gas companies to optimize fossil fuel production as well.
In this context, experts state that artificial intelligence is not a magical formula that solves every problem on its own and can also have negative impacts.