AI and Climate Action: Intersecting Paths for a Sustainable Future

At the AI India Impact Summit, global policy experts underscored the inescapable intertwining of artificial intelligence and climate action. As the event unfolded in the national capital, energy expert Arunabha Ghosh likened the relationship between the AI revolution and the green movement to a 'double helix,' emphasizing the need for these two transformative forces to coalesce.

Ghosh, at the helm of the Council on Energy Environment and Water, lamented the disparate trajectories of these revolutions. However, he was adamant that aligning AI's potential with climate action could yield monumental benefits for the planet. Pointing to AI's capabilities in optimizing solar, wind energy integration, and forecasting floods, he also warned of the technology's hefty resource demands, particularly from data centers.

In his address, Ghosh called for transparency in measuring AI's ecological footprint and rejected the false choice between technological ambition and environmental stewardship. Panelist Philip Thigo from Kenya advocated for regional cooperation, emphasizing sharing infrastructure instead of redundant investments. Meanwhile, Amitabh Kant and UN Foundation’s Claire Melamed highlighted the urgent need for a new governance paradigm to safeguard society against AI's inequities and potential harms.