Innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can play a critical role in helping the UK meet its pressing climate commitments, especially by maximising the power of renewable energy. If the Government gets this right, and ensures responsible AI usage and development, not only could we reap the benefits of green technological innovation, but we could also regain our status on the world stage as a climate leader.
Nevertheless, this must go hand in hand with robust regulation. Developing these technologies safely and sustainably and ensuring responsible AI usage will enable innovation to support our climate goals rather than become a hindrance.
Clean Innovation On Our Doorsteps
I recently met with a team – who just so happen to be local to my constituency, Bath – who are leading the way in clean hydrogen and wind power. Drift have created the world’s first green energy yachts, gaining them the Startups 100 Sustainability Award and a COP 28 Award.
They are looking to the planet’s biggest natural resource – the ocean – to help protect its future. Their yachts sail all around the globe, harnessing ocean winds to produce green hydrogen. On these yachts are vessels guided by advanced routing software called Goldilocks, which locates energy from optimum wind and wave conditions. The energy gathered from its underwater turbines is then fed into an electrolyser to produce green hydrogen.
The yachts can also determine when the hydrogen tank is full and subsequently return to port. What’s so novel about Drift’s work is that their yachts can generate renewable energy from almost anywhere in the world. Instead of static solar panels or wind turbines, these green energy yachts are entirely mobile. It’s fantastic to see innovative minds from Bath leading the way in clean technology and putting the wind in our sails for the climate voyage.
The Role of Responsible AI in Climate Resilience
Following the Prime Minister’s recent decision to turbocharge artificial intelligence, it’s important to consider the huge potential at our fingertips for accelerating progress towards our sustainability goals. A responsible AI roll out can play a really important role, not just in combating climate change but also in mitigating some of its devastating consequences.
AI’s ability to process large amounts of data, informing its impressive predictive capacity, could come in handy for improving the accuracy of climate forecasting models. This could be a game-changer for climate-vulnerable countries, helping to inform their adaptation measures. For example, several UN agencies are working on an AI-driven project – with communities in Burundi, Chad, and Sudan – which investigates historic climate patterns and predicts future projections to assess climate vulnerability and inform adaptation solutions.
Advanced technology like this could be crucial in areas susceptible to climate catastrophes, helping to keep local residents safe by predicting when and where landslides, for example, could occur. With horrifying wildfires currently spanning the coast of Los Angeles, innovative technologies that help us predict, prepare for and even prevent environmental disasters could not be more pressing.
Artificial intelligence could also take the UK closer to reaching Net Zero. Responsible AI implementation could help us manage our rapidly growing electricity demand, which is predicted to double by 2050, by optimising electricity distribution via smart grids – balancing supply and demand. It can also aid in predicting weather patterns, like windy or sunny conditions, to help us harness the natural resources around us and maximise our renewable energy production.
Innovation Must Help, Not Hinder
If we are mindful of its constraints when ploughing ahead with AI, an exciting opportunity stands before us to accelerate our journey to Net Zero and mitigate the effects of climate change. However, we cannot let the potential for climate solutions overshadow the problems posed by artificial intelligence.
AI will need a huge amount of energy to operate. The CEO of the National Grid, John Pettigrew, has said the power needed to run data centres for AI will surge six-fold in the next decade. Not only do we need to ensure we have the grid capacity to support this huge energy demand, but we also need to rapidly scale up renewable energy to power AI. What’s more, there are several solutions we could consider to keep data centres cool and minimise their carbon-intensive demands, such as immersion cooling and utilising waste heat.
It is no use artificial intelligence helping to accelerate climate action if it simultaneously undermines our Net Zero targets. I’m glad to see that an AI Energy Council will be established by the Government to ensure AI’s energy demands are managed through clean energy projects, but we need thorough measures of accountability to make sure these concerns will be adequately addressed through the council.
Final Thought
As the UK drives forward with innovation, new technologies like AI could be indispensable for our climate ambitions – but only as long as we ensure renewables are front and centre. From improving preparedness for climate-vulnerable countries to maximising the power of renewables, advanced innovation can propel us forward as a climate leader. However, when it comes to artificial intelligence, we urgently need the frameworks in place to ensure it is powered sustainably, rather than further delaying our journey to Net Zero.
Wera Hobhouse MP
DesignationVice Chair of the Environment APPG
