In the urgent fight against climate change, innovative solutions are crucial, not just for the distant future, but for the world we live in today. With this ethos in mind, Google’s current projects harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) are demonstrating their potential to make a real impact. From flood forecasting to fuel-efficient routing, Google’s initiatives are providing new avenues for individuals, businesses, and governments to combat climate change on a large scale.
Land
One notable project, AnthroKrishi, utilises AI and satellite imagery to map critical information about individual farms, aiding in informed decisions around crop planting. By identifying key landscape elements such as bodies of water and buildings, this mapping technology empowers government and enterprise partners to make data-driven decisions, ultimately optimising crop yields and resource usage.
Another groundbreaking endeavour is flood forecasting, where Google’s global hydrological AI model predicts floods up to 7 days in advance, even in data-scarce and vulnerable regions. This innovation has the potential to save countless lives and mitigate the devastating impacts of floods, which currently threaten nearly a fifth of the world’s population.
Project Green Light tackles urban emissions by leveraging AI to optimise traffic lights, reducing stops and emissions at intersections by up to 30% and 10%, respectively. This initiative is already making strides in 12 cities worldwide, offering a tangible solution to the dual challenges of traffic congestion and climate change.
In the realm of wildfires, Google’s AI-based tools provide real-time mapping and fire spread modelling, aiding communities in staying safe and firefighters in battling blazes more effectively. By leveraging AI and satellite imagery, these tools offer invaluable support in managing one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.
Sea
Google’s initiatives extend beneath the waves, with projects like Kelp mapping Australia’s giant kelp forests to aid in conservation efforts, and Calling in Corals, a citizen science project harnessing AI to analyse underwater audio recordings to better understand and preserve coral reef ecosystems. Additionally, the Blue Carbon project applies AI to measure the carbon-storing capacity of seagrass ecosystems, highlighting their importance in mitigating climate change.
Skies
In the aviation sector, Google’s AI is being applied to mitigate the climate impact of contrails, which account for a significant portion of aviation’s global warming impact. By developing contrail forecast maps, pilots can choose routes that minimise contrail formation, offering a promising avenue for reducing emissions in the industry.
MethaneSAT is another ambitious project, utilising satellite data and Google AI to identify and track methane emissions, offering valuable insights for mitigating this potent greenhouse gas.
Solar API rounds out Google’s AI initiatives by helping businesses estimate rooftop solar energy potential, empowering consumers to make informed decisions about adopting solar energy and reducing their carbon footprint.
Google’s AI projects represent a multifaceted approach to tackling climate change, offering innovative solutions across land, sea, and sky. With their potential to revolutionise how we address environmental challenges, these initiatives are paving the way for a more sustainable future for generations to come.
