SUMMARY of the Article “AI and climate” by Hafsa Azam, Dawn [Published on December 28th, 2023]
The article discusses the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in addressing climate change and its related challenges. Climate change, driven by human activities, results in severe consequences such as greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and various climatic disasters. AI emerges as a key player in enhancing adaptation capabilities and developing sustainable solutions to combat these issues. From precision agriculture to disaster prediction, AI-driven innovations are reshaping climate-related strategies. The year 2023 witnessed a surge in climate change-induced disasters globally, including hurricanes, cyclones, floods, and wildfires. AI’s role in providing accurate weather forecasts and early warning mechanisms is highlighted, leveraging extensive data from sources like satellite imagery and social media to predict disasters. The US and Japan exemplify successful integration of AI in weather predictions, disaster-response coordination, and emergency announcement systems using automated drones. The article emphasizes the need for Pakistan to adopt AI in meteorological operations, considering its vulnerability to climate change. Despite being among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change, Pakistan lacks AI-based measures for climate disaster mitigation in its National Artificial Intelligence Policy (NAIP). The author suggests incorporating dedicated AI policies for climate disaster mitigation, citing the positive outcomes observed in countries like the US.
Easy/Short SUMMARY:
The article explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionize responses to climate change and disasters. AI, by providing accurate weather forecasts and early warnings, plays a crucial role in mitigating climate-related challenges. Examples from the US and Japan demonstrate successful AI integration in disaster response. The article stresses Pakistan’s need to incorporate AI into meteorological operations due to its vulnerability to climate change, urging the inclusion of climate-disaster-mitigation AI measures in the National Artificial Intelligence Policy.
SOLUTIONS of The Problem:
1. Integration of AI in Meteorological Operations:
- Pakistan should integrate AI into meteorological departments to enhance weather predictions, early warnings, and disaster-response coordination.
2. Dedicated Climate-Disaster-Mitigation AI Policy:
- The National Artificial Intelligence Policy (NAIP) of Pakistan should include dedicated measures for AI-based climate disaster mitigation.
3. Data Analysis for Early Warning Systems:
- Implement AI-driven systems for analyzing extensive data from satellite imagery, weather stations, and social media to detect patterns indicative of impending disasters.
4. AI-Based Disaster Response Coordination:
- Learn from successful models like the US and Japan to enhance disaster-response coordination through AI, improving preparedness and rapid response time.
5. Utilizing Automated Drones for Emergency Announcements:
- Consider implementing systems similar to Japan’s use of automated drones equipped with infrared cameras for real-time disaster assessment and evacuation announcements.
6. Enhancing Climate Modeling with AI:
- Utilize AI for long-term climate modeling to better understand climate trends and improve resilience against future disasters.
7. Public Awareness and Evacuation:
- Use AI to enhance public awareness by analyzing data and providing timely warnings, facilitating efficient evacuations in vulnerable areas.
8. Investment in AI for Disaster Response:
- Allocate resources for AI technologies dedicated to climate disaster response, considering the positive outcomes observed in countries that have invested in such measures.
9. Collaboration with International Organizations:
- Collaborate with international organizations to share expertise and best practices in AI-based climate disaster mitigation.
10. Capacity Building and Training:
- Invest in capacity building and training programs to equip relevant departments with the skills needed to effectively implement AI-based measures for climate disaster management.
IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the Article:
- Climate Change Impact in Pakistan: Reduced agricultural productivity, irregular water supplies, coastal erosion, increased extreme weather events.
- Climate-Related Disasters in 2022 in Pakistan: Severe floods with damages amounting to $30 billion and over 1,200 fatalities.
MCQs from the Article:
- What is the primary driver of climate change mentioned in the article?
A. Natural disasters
B. Greenhouse gas emissions
C. Global warming
D. Anthropogenic activities -
Which country successfully uses automated drones for disaster response, as per the article?
A. Pakistan
B. Japan
C. The United States
D. Greece -
What role does AI play in providing weather forecasts, according to the article?
A. Enhancing agriculture productivity
B. Assessing climate change impacts
C. Providing accurate predictions and early warnings
D. Developing sustainable solutions -
Which country faced a catastrophic wildfire due to a Megadrought in 2023, as mentioned in the article?
A. Greece
B. Canada
C. Myanmar
D. Chile -
Why does the article suggest Pakistan needs AI in meteorological operations?
A. To enhance agricultural productivity
B. To improve climate modeling
C. To address severe impacts of climate change
D. To monitor greenhouse gas emissions
VOCABULARY:
- Anthropogenic (adjective) (انسانی): Originating in human activity.
- Mitigate (verb) (کم کرنا): Make (something bad) less severe, serious, or painful.
- Resilience (noun) (چستی): The ability to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
- Intricate (adjective) (پیچیدہ): Very detailed, complicated, or complex.
- Amplifies (verb) (بڑھاتا ہے): Increases the volume, amount, or scope of.
- Culminated (verb) (پورا ہوا): Reached its highest point or climax.
- Vulnerability (noun) (زیادہ حساسیت): The quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
- Dedicated (adjective) (مختص): (of a thing) Exclusively allocated to or intended for a particular service or purpose.
- Efficiency (noun) (کارگری): The state or quality of being efficient, or able to accomplish something with the least waste of time and effort.
- Megadrought (noun) (میگاڈراؤٹ): A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, typically covering a geographical region larger than a standard drought.
📢 Attention Please!
We appreciate your commitment to acquiring knowledge through our summaries. Please be reminded not to remove the attribution label affixed to this article. It is crucial to acknowledge the source and the effort invested in creating this summary. We discourage any unauthorized distribution without proper credit. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 🔍
⚡ Explore More Summaries, Solutions, and Vocabulary Meanings!
💡 Join our WhatsApp Channel for timely and comprehensive summaries of the latest articles, along with well-crafted solutions and helpful vocabulary meanings. Click the link below to join now:
🔗 Dawn Article Summaries WhatsApp Channel
WhatsApp Channel Link
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y
ARTIFICIAL intelligence has the potential to revolutionise our response to the concerns of climate change and climatic disasters. The convergence of AI and climate action holds promise not only for enhancing our ability to adapt to a changing environment but also for developing sustainable solutions that may help mitigate the factors behind climate change.
Climate change is driven by anthropogenic activities, causing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, and posing severe risks such as rising sea levels, ecosystem disruption, the endangering of species, and altered ocean currents. Frequent climatic events such as hurricanes, droughts, floods and wildfires cause biodiversity loss and pose health risks. From precision agriculture and renewable energy optimisation to disaster prediction and response, AI is driving innovation that can reshape our approach to climate-related issues.
In 2023, a surge in climate change-induced disasters occurred worldwide. Hurricane Idalia, originating in the Caribbean in 2023, attained Category 3 status and left widespread destruction in Perry, Florida in its wake. Closer to home, in June this year, Cyclone Biparjoy threatened Pakistan’s coastline and severely impacted Gujarat in India, necessitating evacuations and causing casualties. Severe floods struck Greece, Türkiye, and Bulgaria in September 2023 with heavy rains causing flooding and landslides. Rwanda also experienced floods and landslides in May 2023.
According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, over the past two decades, rising temperatures, prolonged droughts and arid conditions have elevated wildfire risks. Climate change amplifies interconnected factors such as temperature and humidity in vegetated areas, triggering dangerous wildfires. In July 2023, Greece faced devastating wildfires, the US battled wildfires in California, and Canada struggled with over 900 active fires, 599 of them “out of control”. Also, in Southeast Asia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam experienced wildfires. Chile’s Megadrought culminated in a catastrophic wildfire earlier this year.
Weather forecasts must use AI.
AI plays a crucial role in providing weather forecasts for anticipating natural disasters accurately. Conventional forecasting relies on intricate mathematical models, which may not be able to predict extreme events. AI’s foremost contribution lies in providing early warning mechanisms and post-disaster recovery efforts. Through the analysis of extensive data from sources like satellite imagery, weather stations, and social media, AI algorithms can discern patterns and trends indicative of impending disasters. For instance, AI-driven systems can detect hurricane formation and factors that could lead to wildfire, such as smoke plumes, rapidly changing heat signatures and the appearance of hotspots in vegetated areas in satellite images, enabling timely warnings and evacuations.
The US utilises AI to enhance weather predictions, early warnings, flood monitoring, disaster-response coordination, infrastructure assessment and long-term climate modelling, which improves resilience and disaster management. Japan has introduced an emergency announcement system, utilising automated drones to facilitate disaster evacuations. These drones operate on a dedicated private wireless network that remains functional during emergencies. They are equipped with infrared cameras to capture real-time images of disaster-affected areas and transmit them to disaster-response centres to urge people to evacuate. This technology enhances the speed and security of remote damage assessment, thereby improving disaster response efficiency.
Pakistan needs to integrate AI into the operations of its meteorological departments due to the severe impact of climate change. The country faces challenges such as reduced agricultural productivity, irregular water supplies, coastal erosion and increased extreme weather events, making AI-based climate disaster management crucial. Pakistan ranks among the top 10 countries which are most affected by climate change. Severe floods in 2022, with rainfall three times higher than the national average, had caused damage to the tune of $30 billion, with more than 1,200 fatalities.
There are no AI-based measures mentioned in the National Artificial Intelligence Policy to address climate disaster mitigation. Countries, such as the US, which have invested in AI for disaster response, have witnessed notable improvements in preparedness and rapid response time, underlining the potential benefits of a dedicated climate-disaster-mitigation AI policy. Pakistan should therefore consider incorporating climate-disaster-mitigation AI technology measures into the NAIP to effectively cope with the impacts of climate change.
The writer is a research assistant at the Centre for International Strategic Studies Sindh.
Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2023