Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Achieve Significant Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions by 2030
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology with the potential to significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions before 2030. According to estimates by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Google, AI could contribute to mitigating between 5 percent and 10 percent of worldwide emissions, offering a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
BBVA's recent monograph explores the myriad possibilities AI offers to predict environmental risks and enhance decision-making processes. It also highlights the critical need to improve the energy efficiency of data centres that support these advanced technologies, aiming to minimise their environmental footprint. The report underlines that sustainable development of AI must go hand-in-hand with reducing energy consumption associated with digital infrastructure.
One of the most promising applications of AI lies in transforming transportation, which accounts for nearly a fifth of global CO2 emissions. Initiatives like Google's Green Light project use AI algorithms to synchronise traffic lights across 20 cities. This innovation has achieved reductions of up to 30 percent in stop-and-go traffic at intersections and has cut emissions from idling vehicles by approximately 10 percent. Such improvements demonstrate the potential to scale smart traffic management for broader emissions reductions.
In the energy sector, AI-driven projects are already delivering tangible savings. The Alicante Digital Intelligence Centre's pilot programme modifies street lighting based on traffic flow and weather conditions, projecting energy cost reductions of around 20-25 percent. These optimisations contribute directly to lowering energy consumption and associated emissions, aligning with broader sustainable urban development strategies.
The agricultural sector, responsible for 70 percent of the world's freshwater use, also benefits from AI innovation. Argentine company Kilimo employs models that optimise irrigation, helping save over 8 million cubic metres of water across seven countries. This amount could sustain approximately 438,000 people for a year, illustrating AI's capacity to promote resource efficiency in critical sectors.
Moreover, AI is tackling food waste through artificial vision systems deployed in kitchens and restaurants across 94 countries. Winnow's systems identify food types and quantities discarded, saving around 70 million meal portions annually, preventing 122,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions, and generating nearly 100 million dollars in savings. These efforts significantly contribute to reducing the environmental impact of global food waste.
Social sustainability is also enhanced through AI applications such as automatic transcription of medical consultations by Quiron Salud and the innovative LUP device developed by Spanish students. LUP listens to text and converts it into speech, helping individuals with dyslexia and visual impairments access information more easily. These advances exemplify AI's role in promoting inclusive and sustainable social development.
In conclusion, AI presents substantial opportunities to accelerate decarbonisation efforts across key sectors. By improving operational efficiency, optimising resource use, and enabling smarter infrastructure, AI can help achieve ambitious climate targets while supporting sustainable economic growth and social inclusion.