Climate x AI, New World Disorder & Focusing on what matters (belated New Year reflections from Davos)

A couple weeks ago I attended the World Economic Forum with Metha AI, where Yaniv Altshuler shared our work - applying state of the art AI technology to reduce methane from its source (cows burps, obviously!). At the ‘Imagination in Action’ gathering (orchestrated brilliantly by John Werner and many others), I stopped for a minute and looked around the room and thought to myself: WOW.  

Around that room there were numerous discussions going on stage and next to the coffee stands on climate x AI (more on that below), companies presenting the coolest groundbreaking technologies (Oy, I’m such a nerd), scientists, and domain experts all diverting their energy towards solving the various climate change challenges. I then thought about that saying “if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room”, feeling grateful to absolutely be in the right room, with the right people (and with the right view!). 

In the background of these discussions and engagements, is the WEF’s 2024 Global Risks report which outlines the various risks we should be aware of stepping into this year. Beyond the risks, what was most apparent for me were  (1) the  interconnectedness between them and (2)  the constant need to zoom in and zoom out. Constantly moving from inward to the outward, from interconnectedness to self-sustained, from local to global, and so on. More unpacking of that below. 

Climate x AI 

AI can and is playing a significant role in addressing climate change through various applications and solutions. But it does not neglect the essentiality of collaborative framework and efforts across and between the various players (policymakers, scientists, private markets, etc.) like in any other climate solution. It also does not neglect the crucial need to make sure such technologies are transparent, allow ethical considerations for users, and operate in an inclusive manner to ensure we’re indeed making a positive impact.

Here are some examples where AI can be implemented across various climate solutions 

• Energy efficiency (smart grids optimization and distribution, predictive maintenance, etc..)

• Renewable energy (energy production enhancement and efficiency, resources management, etc. )

• Carbon capture and storage (optimizing ccs systems, allowing for cost-effective processes, etc.)

• Climate modeling and prediction (processing huge amounts of data, better accuracy and prediction and understanding of climate impacts, early warning systems, and more)

• Natural resource management (deforestation monitoring, wildlife protection), supply chain optimization (reducing emission across the supply chain, improving logistics and transportation, improving manufacturing processes, etc.)

• Climate financing and risks assessment/management (guiding decisions and allocation of resources)

• and of course Behavioural change and knowledge sharing and education. 

AI x Climate exemplary: Metha.ai

As we know, reducing methane emissions is essential to stop climate change, a GHG with a warning potential 84x higher than carbon dioxide. We also know 18.8% of global methane emissions come from enteric fermentation - if we could make a “cows nation” (i.e. brining all the cattle and dairy cows together to form a country), they’ll be right at the top of with the highest emitting nations: #1 China, #2 U.S., #3 Cows Nation. How can artificial intelligence be used in order to tackle this problem?

Metha.ai uses microbiome analytics to calculate the optimal diet for each herd, making it 3x more efficient. By optimizing the cows' digestion with artificial intelligence, we’re not only reducing emissions and saving costs, but also increasing yield, and… building the world’s largest data repository. 

With that, the possibilities are endless. 

New World Disorder | 2024: The Risks Report & What can we do

The current and new world disorder (a nice term for a ‘chaotic & critical global boiling point’?), is actually forcing all of us to look inward. It is translated into personal processes, as well as country-level processes of rebuilding and self-sustaining, sometimes reinventing systems that may be even decades old. Some which don’t fit anymore within the societal, economical, and geopolitical shifts. In parallel, the various cross-sectorial risks outlined below require us to constantly zoom in and zoom out, and keep in mind the interconnectedness of it all with the changing dynamics worldwide. 

#1 Geopolitical Risks 

I'll admit it is a bit strange writing on conflicts 100+ days into a war that changed all of us here in Israel (and elsewhere). This is one of many conflicts going on worldwide. In the past year there was a significant surge in active conflicts combined with interstate armed conflicts - all of them have the potential to destabilize the global security and financial systems.

True, many of the conflicts are bigger picture and involve larger forces than us. However, we can think of how each and every one of us operates or can move the needle within such conflicts as individuals and companies. Going beyond managing technical risks (e.g. financial, information, supply chain, ip, legal and beyond) ask what do the impacted populations need? How can these populations be supported? Maybe our skills and/or tech can? Maybe our non-profit work can? And how? Any conflict in any country eventually affects all around the world and goes into multifaceted breaths and depths that are constantly unveiling.

#2 Climate & Environmental Risks 

Not surprisingly, there’s an anticipation of more extreme weather events, with a growing concern for social-environmental crises resulting from breaching critical thresholds also in the upcoming year(s). We still have a gap between the current adaptation efforts to what is actually needed.

This is a critical area where we can bring in new technological solutions for adaptation. The demonstrated risks emphasize the importance of such technologies, AI, and geo-engineering in addressing climate change challenges. Everyone who is considering establishing a startup company these days (probably a great time to do so, btw) - should be tapping into these areas. 

#3 Technological Risks 

There was not a corner at Davos that didn’t mention AI as if it was a microcosmos of the industry today: corporates, countries, scientists, and entrepreneurs all discussed the various opportunities and risks of the AI revolution. We joke that throwing in “AI” everywhere became a thing. But it does seem inevitable and reflects the extent of this revolution in all areas of life. One of the risks mentioned at the report were AI and unelected power and the concerns about unelected entities having the technological power (specifically in context to artificial intelligence, but not only), as well as bifurcated markets disruptions to labor markets to the simultaneous impact of climate action and AI integrations.

We should be looking truthfully at the role of AI in the solutions we’re developing. What role does it serve? Is it central and essential? Or just a cute add-on? Maybe it complicates things (and even brings in other dangers and risks for the users)? In other words, it should be intentional. Don’t worry, over here in the climate tech sector, we are still super excited (!!!) about tech solving issues without necessarily involving artificial intelligence, and will continue to invest in and build such solutions.

#4 Economic Risks 

A visible economic downturn is predicted, with risks of unmanageable economic shocks and a job market transformation. There’s a prediction for a large-scale economic transformation driven by climate action and AI integrations that will reshape the job market, potentially leading to job loss and challenges in labor mobility. 

However, we also know (and as demonstrated in the ‘LinkedIn's Green Skills 2023' report), that such transformation will also create new roles and jobs we may not even think of yet. In fact, in the next decade we will see more and more new roles related to new advancements in climate technologies and actions, some of which we’re already seeing. Some examples to spark your imagination: renewable energy technicians, climate data analysts, green building architects and designers, carbon capture specialists, climate resilience planners, circular economy managers, climate educators and communicators, eco tourism professionals, precision-ag professionals, water management specialists, green supply chain managers, environmental data scientists, urban heat island mitigation specialists. Some if not most of these will be amplified by artificial intelligence. There's a(nother) reason to get excited.

#5 Societal Risks 

Change creates fear, mostly because it brings in notions of lack of control, unknown factors, and takes us outside of our comfort zones and beyond. Some expected social backlashes expected to rise are centered around the sentiments of “anti-tech” and “anti-sustainability” due to deepening frustrations with economic conditions contributing to societal divisions. Additionally, there’s the risk of global inequality due to the concentration of investments in stable economies that will exacerbate global inequality.

Such risks provide us with the opportunity to reboot and come up with new strategies for inclusive growth, in the face of economic transformations and societal challenges.

2024: Focusing on What Matters

Let’s get back to that moment I shared at the beginning. When I stood in that room in Davos, surrounded by brilliant and kind people, with out-of-this-world skills and capabilities. The common threat between all? Each and every one there is making a conscious and intentional decision to divert their energy into solving something big, something that is important to them, to society, to our planet. Something that matters.

Where focus goes, energy grows. This is a basic quantum physics rule. And we also know that energy is everything. 

And this is how we’re going to navigate this new disorder:  by focusing on what matters. Because when we focus on what matters, we make what matters into a matter (pun intended for my fellow nerds here). 

Let’s focus on what matters. And give the world the best we’ve got, anyway. 

Shani