How can AI help combat climate change?

Originally published on February 27, 2025 | Last modified on March 8, 2025

Overview

AI is already being used to diagnose diseases, make art, and accelerate learning. But can AI help the planet? In this lesson, students will explore a variety of ways that AI is already being used to combat climate change. By examining diverse example use cases, they will begin to construct a framework for the types of problems that AI can help address.

AI & Science
45 minutes

Created by Chris Mah

Digital Materials

Teacher guide

Objectives

After this experience, students will be able to

Analyze real-world examples of AI being used to combat climate change.

Questions explored

What types of environmental problems can AI help address?

Key Terms

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The ability of computers to imitate human-like thinking, learning, and problem-solving.

Climate Change

Significant and persistent changes in global temperatures and weather patterns.

Will AI do more harm or good for the planet?

AI is already being used in many ways to combat climate change. Yet, building, training, and using AI comes with an enormous environmental footprint. Will AI ultimately do more harm or good for the planet? In this lesson, students will draw on their prior learning about the potential and pitfalls of AI for the planet and form their own opinions on whether the advantages of AI outweigh its environmental costs. Then, they will explore potential solutions for making AI more sustainable.

Created by Chris Mah

What are the environmental costs of AI chatbots?

Scientists are already using AI to map environmental risks, analyze huge amounts of climate data, and make predictions to combat climate change. But AI technologies like chatbots also use an enormous amount of energy, and many people are concerned with their environmental costs. In this lesson, students will investigate how these technologies consume energy and water and the broader impact of AI on sustainability.

Created by Chris Mah

Can AI help us communicate with whales?

In this lesson, students will learn how AI is used to analyze whale soundwaves and detect patterns by identifying similar sounds. Students will have the opportunity to listen to real whale sounds and explore a research tool designed by Google, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). Through this exploration, students will consider the role of AI in marine research and understand why this technology is vital for conservation efforts.

Created by Isabel Paz Reyes Sieh, CRAFT Student Designer 2022

Adapted by Chris Mah