Society is acclimatising to a new wave of generative Artificial Intelligence tools that can write poems and novels, paint pictures and compose music.
There are many who decry the detrimental impact this technology might have on jobs, education, literature, art and culture. However, for every future, dystopian scenario laid out, there is an equally positive school of thought that cutting-edge technology, harnessed in the right way, can save our planet and, by extension, ourselves.
Tech for Good is the catchall phrase to describe the aims of companies and individuals to use technology for positive social benefit. We look at some of the technology currently being utilised to alleviate the climate crisis and help in the aim to reach net zero by 2050. With every continent experiencing the effects of climate change, the pressure is on to accelerate momentum and effect proper improvements. Here, we look at a selection of the technology that is helping to fight climate change.
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Satellite Technology helps us better understand the planet’s resources and how we are using them. Satellites provide high-resolution data and images of Earth, thereby supplying information that is essential to make informed decisions around climate change and natural disasters.
Carbon Capture is being used to reduce CO2 emissions. Eliminating carbon emissions from power plants, factories, controlled burns, cargo ships and other sources is the ultimate goal but carbon capture means removing the CO2 at the point of emission and storing it safely. Technology includes air filters and saline aquifers.
Data Analytics can be used to help companies and governments create Circular Economies. A circular economy is a concept based on the reuse and regeneration of materials or products. Companies and governments can utilise IoT, AI, Blockchain and Big Data technology to monitor lifecycle or products and calculate the impact on the environment. Technology which can analyse the data will produce real time analytics which will help with better decision making.
Living Sea walls help fight the effects of rising seawater which, in itself, is a recognisable symptom of climate change. Living seawalls are a form of eco-engineering which 3D prints structures to mimic local marine habitat and can be attached to existing seawalls or mining rigs. When in place, their presence stimulates and rehabilitates the local ecosystem encouraging wildlife to return to the area. They are better equipped to help restore the ecosystem than hard seawalls which can make coastlines more vulnerable to flooding.
Batteries and energy storage are helping to provide alternative energy sources. With electric cars a significant contributor to climate protection, the production of batteries and the use of lithium has greater importance than ever before. There are new growth opportunities now in the area of producing cleaner fuel and coal gasification as well as carbon capture, use and storage will all play their part in the clean fuel revolution.
To learn more about Technology for Good, take a look at Dublin Tech Summit, which promises to host discussions and keynotes on this topic and more.