AI and Sustainable Development

The leading countries of the world have reached a consensus on using and developing capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) for digitalization and sustainable development. Both G7 and G20 presidencies start to encourage collective action in order to increase the use of AI for sustainable development.

In Italy’s Verona city, the representatives of G7 countries pointed to the importance of progress in AI. In scope of ‘Digital Development - Growing Together,’ G7 countries agreed to jointly work with developing countries in order to strengthen local AI digital ecosystems.

Cooperating with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Italy’s G7 Presidency advocated the need for “multi-stakeholder” partnerships to encourage local impact in developing countries. We can say that democratization of data processing power, development of data models open to everyone and strengthening of AI utilization capacities for sustainable development are becoming increasingly important. In other words, G7 countries aim to enable egalitarian and inclusive access to AI, thus supporting reliable, safe, and secure development and distribution.

You can check our article to learn more about AI solutions for sustainability.

Using AI for Sustainable Development

AI is an ally that is needed to design and implement the future and sustainability of our planet as well as to provide suggestions and make plans. AI will help us in building efficiency, using sources in a sustainable manner, and managing and reducing the waste we generate in a more effective way in addition to thousands of other subjects.

​It seems that combining AI with sustainable development will help industries to design a better planet as well as helping us to meet the current needs without threatening future generations due to climate change or other big challenges.

AI and Sustainable Development Goals

​According to a research published in the Nature magazine, AI can help in reaching 79% of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The most obvious example of the contribution of AI to sustainability can be found in traffic management. Implementation of AI in urban mobility enables predicting traffic bottlenecks and suggesting alternative routes. With ride-sharing suggestions, AI estimates vehicle demand according to the area and time, thus organizing availability of vehicles according to the needs of citizens and organizations.

This solution not only streamlines mobility, but also decreases environmental impacts.

Data Collection Capabilities of AI

Data collection capabilities of AI enable especially the assessment of climate risks. In this age marked with rapid and ruthless changes, the cooperation of AI and sustainable development comes to the fore as a beacon of hope that enables us to redefine our collective reaction to global challenges. With the increasing environmental concerns, AI technology has become a powerful actor that triggers digital transformation.

The potential of AI lies in its capability to use data, optimize processes and encourage innovation.

As it stands on the crossroads of innovation and sustainability, AI enables us to move forward towards a future that is fair in terms of welfare sharing.

Examples of Areas in Which AI is Effectively Used

1- Stream Ocean: As the least financed SDG dealing with underwater life, Stream Ocean uses AI for real-time monitoring of aquatic biodiversity via underwater video cameras. By enabling advanced ocean data analytics in real-time, including biodiversity measurements, AI helps with coral restoration projects.

2- Pano AI: Using AI to identify, confirm and classify forest fires in real-time, Pano AI contributes to the global endurance against the increasing frequency and concentration of disasters associated with the climate which originate from forest fires.

3- NatureDots: Making use of AI for remote and real-time monitoring of aquafarms, NatureDots aims to revolutionize food chains based on aquafarming by supporting healthy fishing applications.

4- Sustainable finance: Disasters due to weather conditions have increased in numbers in the last 50 years. The year 2023 was the hottest year on record. Global financial systems are affected by the climate crisis. Financial investors search for ways to effectively identify potential climate risks for their portfolios. AI analyzes large data sets to identify climate risks and investment opportunities. An invaluable data set emerges as a result.

Examples of financial institutions using AI;

- BlackRock: Integrating AI algorithms into their business processes to measure and monitor carbon footprints of investments, BlackRock uses AI tool Aladdin Climate which analyzes climate risks and opportunities for sustainable finance.

- Asian Development Bank: Realizing AI and Digitalization Fund, Asian Development Bank aims to increase energy security in developing member countries and to fight against climate change through increasing adoption of clean energy.

5- Impact Management and Measurement (IMM): Stakeholders, including investors, governments and communities, benefit from AI to increase the precision and efficiency of their impact measurements and assessments even more. And this helps with ensuring accountability and transparency. For example, the European Commission actively uses AI in its IMM frames and focuses especially on access to clean water and improved sanitation facilities.

6- Changing perceptions: Prepared by McKinsey in 2023 on the transformation role of AI, AI report envisages a colossal global AI market of 1.87 trillion USD by the year 2032. Beyond operational efficiency, AI comes to the fore as a powerful catalytic in reshaping sustainability of the society.

The combination of AI and sustainable development give hope for the future. Innovation, smart financial moves, detailed impact measurements and the changes in sustainability perception of society come together to prepare a lasting future for the next generations. The journey of AI goes beyond technology; it shapes our planet and affects the welfare of its residents. The transformative capabilities of AI lay the foundation for a future in which sustainability is not only a goal, but an indispensable part of our common human heritage.

The Alliance of AI and Sustainable Development

AI helps to increase efficiency of renewable energy applications. Companies use AI in energy generation facilities (wind turbines, hydraulic power plants, biomass facilities, etc.) to estimate energy production amounts needed for future periods and to prevent breakdowns.

There are many industries that can develop thanks to AI beyond the energy sector. For example, AI started to be used in agriculture to make irrigation and fertilization more efficient. Thanks to humidity, temperature and fertilization sensors, AI can estimate the needs of the crops.