With the UK Government’s intention to work towards decarbonisation, a new program has been launched which will provide £1.5m to fund a new virtual center of excellence as well as several external AI projects. What challenges does decarbonization face, what does the government announce, and why can AI be the solution to many challenges facing humanity?
What challenges does decarbonization face?
As the world’s weather patterns continue to worsen and temperature records continue to be broken, many are pointing the finger at climate change. While governments around the world are taking action against environmental and climate damage, such as banning disposable plastics and introducing green energy sources, it is clear that the world is not doing enough.
Of course, there is a flip side to this argument that would say that climate change is a natural process that occurs with or without human intervention, and there are even theories that suggest that more CO2 the better for the planet. One piece of evidence for this comes from the fact that the Earth has never been greener than it is today (since recorded human history), and this is due to increased CO2 levels encouraging plant growth. However, a climate change that is too sudden does not give the environment nearly enough time to adapt, which will see many extinction events through the collapse of food chains.
But even if the climate conditions are severe, the proposed plans to combat the increase in temperature are impractical because they do not take into account the global economy and the capitalist system that drives them. Some say that all fossil fuels should be stopped immediately and everyone should switch to EVs, but that is as ridiculous as saying that everyone should stop all wars and spread the love; it won’t happen.
So, the first obstacle to Decarbonization is the great amount of energy produced by mankind from fossil fuels, and while green energy sources exist, only fossil fuels can provide a reliable source of energy that can be delivered to the masses anywhere in the world. As such, society will continue to rely on fossil fuels for the better part of 50 years unless a reliable alternative source of energy is found.
The second obstacle to decarbonization comes from the challenges of replacing vehicles with EV types. While this is entirely possible for those with the cash, most car owners simply cannot afford the high price tag associated with EVs. Furthermore, switching to EVs does not necessarily reduce the total amount of CO2 produced, as EVs require electricity, and this is likely to be obtained from fossil fuels.
The third obstacle to decarbonization is that many industrial processes used in the production of raw materials and fertilizers produce CO2 as a by-product, and there are no viable alternatives to these manufacturing processes. For the economy to continue working, these processes must continue until alternatives are found. Simply stopping all this activity will only harm the world more through the economic instability, war, and violence that will inevitably arise.
There are many other obstacles to decarbonization, and simply supporting blanket ideals like “Just Stop Oil” and “No to fossil fuels” is not only ridiculous but may be immoral. Instead, energy should be focused on finding alternative solutions that are economically viable.
The government has launched a £1.5m AI program to help decarbonisation
Recognizing the challenges facing decarbonization, the UK government recently announced a new program that will use AI to tackle climate crises and provide £1.5m in funding. The first £500,000 will be used to create a virtual center of excellence in AI innovation and decarbonisation until March 2025, while the remaining £1m will be used to fund innovative projects that will use AI to help reduce UK carbon emissions. The AI project draws its funding from the larger Net Zero Innovation Portfolio which has been awarded £1bn.
While £1m makes perfect sense for helping to launch AI-based projects, the £500K funding for a virtual center is of particular interest because the term virtual suggests that space is not a physical location. If this is the case, it shows that the UK government recognizes the advantages of the digital world and how new organizations and groups can be built without having to carry a heavy carbon footprint. For example, the construction of a facility results in many thousands of tons of CO2 being emitted through concrete, fuel, and electricity, while the use of such a facility would see people travel to the centre, with an increased carbon footprint.
But why a digital center needs £500,000 of funding is quite unusual and may also reflect government waste. With a 3-year plan, that funding equates to around £130K per year, and the cost of hosting a website and server is a fraction of this cost. It is unlikely that the center will be moved in the metaverse, and the creation of such a center would require a number of software tools and could easily be broken in a week.
Why could AI be the solution to climate change?
Trying to speak everything to stop using electricity and switch to green energy can only if those solutions are cheap and easy. Furthermore, trying to make people feel guilty about their consumption and lifestyle often results in anger and rejection, especially when those preaching use private jets and live in luxury.
But while AI comes with many challenges surrounding privacy and ethical use, it may be the answer to the future of carbon reduction. For example, the predictive capabilities of AI enable energy grids to know when energy is needed, which helps reduce the amount of energy wasted. Even if the country’s energy breakdown could be 1% more efficient, that’s a significant amount of CO2 saved from reduced fossil fuel consumption.
The same applies to smart environmental control inside buildings. If a building can be actively monitored and intelligently controlled by AI to turn on the heating in specific areas, the amount of energy used can be minimized, thus reducing the total amount of CO2 generation. Again, such AI systems can even be used in traffic control systems, and can reduce the number of idle cars that needlessly burn fuel.
There are many applications where AI can improve energy efficiency, and while it may not eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels, it may be the most economical way to reduce carbon emissions in the short term.
