Lord Nicholas Stern and James Manyika discuss the role of AI in driving systemic change to address the climate crisis, highlighting the potential of AI in enhancing investments in clean technology. They explore how AI can drive rapid systemic changes in energy, transport, cities, land, and water systems to combat environmental challenges, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts for sustainable development.
AI can revolutionize urban planning and climate adaptation strategies through simulations in energy and transport sectors.
Systemic change demands aligning technological innovations with economic structures, requiring proactive skills development and collaborative efforts among various stakeholders.
Deep dives
The Intersection of AI and Sustainability Progress
AI's pace of development is crucial for addressing climate change and transitioning to a sustainable economy. Notable international commitments, like COP 28 and IMF meetings, reflect a growing focus on green initiatives. Despite challenges from vested interests, the momentum of AI advancements aligns well with the urgency for systemic change.
AI in City Transformation and Climate Adaptation
AI can revolutionize urban planning and climate adaptation strategies by simulating experiments in critical systems like energy and transport. Examples show AI's impact in predicting flight patterns to reduce emissions and optimizing traffic lights to minimize environmental impact. The potential for large-scale systemic changes relies on AI's ability to enhance urban infrastructure efficiently.
Systemic Change and Economic Adaptation
Achieving systemic change requires aligning technological innovations with economic and societal structures. Balancing AI's transformative potential with economic transitions necessitates proactive skills development and thoughtful workforce transitions. The collaborative efforts of policymakers, AI developers, and social scientists are crucial for harmonizing technological advancements with societal well-being.
Lord Nicholas Stern, Chair of the London School of Economics’ Grantham Research Institute, is a leading expert on the economics of climate change. In a conversation about the need for inclusive systemic change, and the role of AI in transforming various sectors, such as energy, transport, and cities, he sits down with Google SVP of Technology and Society James Manyika to explore proactive measures to invest in both people and places affected by technological change, and highlight examples of how AI is already being used to help society mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects.