Digital technology can be relied on in achieving sustainable climate actions that can avert the climate change impacts
The race to net zero is one of the most urgent challenges humanity has ever faced, with over half of the global population already experiencing the impacts of climate change. The road ahead is complex, unpredictable, and on a tight deadline.
However, digital technology is playing a crucial role in this transition, offering essential tools to manage resources, speed up decarbonization, and foster a sustainable future. Climate tech, bolstered by innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and Earth observation, is emerging as a transformative force, providing both environmental and economic opportunities.
Earth Observation: A $3.8 Trillion Opportunity
Earth observation (EO) technology is evident of how the digital technology that is revolutionizing the way we understand and interact with the planet. EO uses remote sensing platforms—ranging from satellites to ground-based systems—to collect and analyze data about Earth’s surface, atmosphere, and ecosystems. This technology is invaluable in monitoring environmental conditions, informing decisions across industries, and driving sustainability efforts.
According to a recent World Economic Forum report, EO has the potential to generate a staggering $3.8 trillion in economic benefits by 2030, while contributing significantly to global climate and nature goals. The report estimates that EO could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2 gigatonnes annually.
Yana Gevorgyan, Secretariat Director of the Group on Earth Observations, emphasizes the importance of understanding the planet through continuous monitoring. “No one will argue it’s important we protect the integrity and health of Earth – because that is our home. For us to properly care for it, we need to understand it, and for us to understand it, we need to monitor it.”
Gevorgyan’s team is working on a groundbreaking initiative called “Atlas,” an open online resource that will consolidate high-quality ecosystem maps from around the world. This initiative aims to close the knowledge gap about global ecosystems, many of which remain unmapped or poorly understood. The project will initially launch in California, providing unprecedented detail to support governments and individuals in nature conservation efforts.
“Over half of the world’s ecosystems today are not mapped,” Gevorgyan explains. “We don’t know where they are, how to categorize them, or how they’re changing. This initiative will harmonize mapping approaches, allowing us to monitor ecosystems more effectively over time.”
AI-Powered Carbon Capture
Digital technology can’t be overlooked as it critical considering the impacts of Artificial intelligence(AI). AI is transforming countless industries, and its role in climate action is becoming increasingly prominent. Insilico Medicine, a biotech company, is leveraging AI to not only drive new drug discovery but also to develop solutions for carbon capture and sustainability.
Alex Zhavoronko, founder of Insilico Medicine, is particularly excited about how AI and biotechnology can be combined to mitigate climate change. “What I am passionate about, in terms of the application of generative AI in chemistry specifically is, of course, drug discovery,” he says. “But now we can also use the same generative AI engines to identify solutions that allow you to do more efficient carbon capture.”
Insilico’s Generative AI for Sustainability platform is creating innovative solutions, including more sustainable chemicals, fuels, and materials. The company’s focus on metal-organic frameworks and amines is key to developing efficient filters that can capture and then release carbon in a reusable form, eliminating the need for expensive and resource-intensive storage.
This approach could meet the growing demand for carbon dioxide in biomanufacturing, allowing industries to capture the gas from the atmosphere instead of producing it. “In the next five years, we should be able to have materials that will allow us to decarbonize efficiently,” Zhavoronko predicts.
“And if we figure out a way to also reuse the CO2 for industrial purposes, we could not only decarbonize but also feed the planet through innovations like artificial food.”
Wind Energy
Wind energy is one of the most promising sources of renewable power, with global installed capacity increasing dramatically over the past two decades. However, the potential of onshore wind turbines is limited by transportation constraints, which prevent the installation of larger, more efficient turbines inland. This is where Radia, a Colorado-based energy start-up, comes in.
Mark Lundstrom, Radia’s CEO, believes the solution lies in overcoming these logistical hurdles. “The only thing that’s standing between us and GigaWind, offshore-sized turbines onshore, is a transportation issue,” he explains. Offshore turbines can exceed 100 meters in blade length, while onshore turbines are typically limited to around 70 meters due to the challenges of moving such large components through tunnels, under bridges, and around sharp curves.
Radia’s solution is Windrunner, the world’s largest plane, designed to transport massive turbine blades wherever they’re needed. This aircraft, 12 times larger in volume than a Boeing 747, could unlock a new era for wind energy. According to a report by consulting firm DeSolve LLC, WindRunner could enable the United States to add up to 216GW to its energy grid, supplying up to 40% of the country’s electricity by 2050.
“This will double the capacity of wind turbines and open up vast new land areas for wind power,” says Lundstrom. “This means new economic opportunities for communities that don’t currently benefit from wind energy.”
As climate change accelerates, the need for innovative solutions grows ever more urgent. From harnessing AI for carbon capture to revolutionizing renewable energy transport, the work of these visionaries demonstrates the power of technology to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
