Extreme and unpredictable changes in the climate are a cause of serious concern globally today. Several recent reports, such as the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”, have warned of increased risks to the lives and livelihoods of people. 

The nationwide measures to mitigate the adversities are in dire need. Among the many approaches, strategies and technologies being explored to tackle the complex problem of climate change, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining prominence.  

Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) has published its report, which examines the deployment of AI tools and applications for climate change mitigation and adaptation in India. The timely report also provides actionable recommendations for facilitating and enabling the use of responsible AI for dealing with climate change in the country.  

AI and Climate Change 

According to the report, 80% of the population living in districts that are highly prone to extreme hydrometer disasters, and India’s vulnerability to climate change is extreme. The country’s growth is intricately linked to climate risks, with a direct bearing on sustainable development and investment efforts.  

AI is a powerful tool that can address the challenges posed by climate change. The study states that there are four key roles that AI can play in aiding climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. They are: 

• Big and raw data analysis 
• Prediction and forecasting 
• Advanced scientific modelling & simulations 
• Simplifying complex systems 

AI in transport 

Indian cities have one of the worst traffic conditions worldwide. An increase in the severity and duration of traffic congestion increases GHG emissions. At the same time, vehicle registrations have risen almost three times, adding to the congestion. “Creating more road space alone cannot be a solution. Simultaneous policy interventions targeted at reducing traffic activities are needed, which AI can help with”, says the study. 

Similarly, according to the study, AI can aid in an Intelligent traffic signal system which vehicle location and movement information from registered vehicles. It can be effective in the conservation of energy and the environment. AI and ML also check traffic violations at zebra crossings and lane detections.  

Here are some key recommendations from the study to reduce the climate change impact due to transportation: 

• Demand management 
• Process optimization 
• Transition to clean transport 
• Modal shift 

AI for water 

Various studies conducted by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) have found that around 75% of the Himalayan glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate, causing variability in water flows to downstream areas. According to the findings of the “Climate AI: How artificial intelligence can power your climate action strategy” survey by Capgemini Research Institute (2021), the AI use cases in the utility sector are expected to bring about an average emission reduction of almost 16% over the next 2-3 years. 

Here are the key areas where AI is significant according to the CSTEP study: 

1. Glaciology: AI has impacted monitoring glacial changes, mapping glacier retreat, and estimating the impact of glacial body changes.  
2. Integrated river basin management: AI has a significant role in flood prediction and warnings, risk assessments regarding water availability and reservoir/multi-reservoir operations and water storage capacity planning.  
3. Managing groundwater levels: AI aids in mapping groundwater zones, estimating recharge rates, and precision farming. 
4. Managing water health: AI has a significant role in urban flood prediction and management, reducing non-revenue water and monitoring the loss of water bodies and water quality. 

Roadmap for the future 

The CSTEP study put forward a clear and well-defined roadmap to best align the use of AI with India’s climate change mitigation and adaptation- a Climate Action Matrix and a set of policy recommendations. 

 The Climate Action Matrix—which positions each AI use case (in the transport and water sectors) according to its potential opportunity and the expected ease of implementation in India—will enable stakeholders to prioritize areas of climate action. 

The key policy recommendations include the following: 

• Align climate change strategies with (regulated) AI-enabled solutions and vice-versa 
• Develop a comprehensive data infrastructure and enable data sharing 
• Set up suitable physical infrastructure 
• Build capacity and promote R&D and information dissemination 
• Encourage community participation and partnerships

The report concludes that with a host of promising opportunities for application across sectors, AI can play a big role in strengthening the ongoing efforts in this area. However, while the impacts may be visible immediately or in the long run, the steps to utilize AI in the climate action space must be taken immediately. 

 Read the full report here.