Welcome to Code Green, a media series by Digital Futures Lab and Earth Venture Foundation that separates the heat from the hype around AI and climate action.
In this series, we seek to foster knowledge exchange among scientific experts, development organisations, civil society organisations and investors working at the intersection of climate and technology. Our aim is to catalyse action and drive investments that align AI innovation trajectories with climate justice in the region.
Code Green Podcast
A 10-part series featuring conversations with climate tech innovators, thought leaders, and policy experts, designed to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and identify emerging opportunities.
Navigating AI’s role in Asia’s climate action strategy
In this first episode of the Code Green podcast, we speak to Elina Noor, Senior Fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Alpan Raval, Chief Scientist AI/ML at Wadhwani AI and Varad Pande, Partner at Boston Consulting Group about the intersection of AI and climate action in Asia, from a policy, technology and finance lens. Our guests highlight the many opportunities for AI in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, the environmental costs of compute-intensive technologies and the pathways needed to ensure climate justice in the long run.
Geospatial AI and Emerging Opportunities for Climate Action
In this episode, we explore the potential and limitations of using Geospatial AI for climate action. The conversation ranges from trends in democratisation of map-making with easy-to-use GIS tools to the risks and ethical concerns that are associated with the use of GIS data. Our guests discuss the need for community involvement, factoring in local knowledge systems, and ensuring equitable access when it comes to Geospatial AI. They discuss the potential environmental costs and the importance of funding and transparency in technology implementation.
Code Green Newsletter
A monthly newsletter showcasing the latest interdisciplinary research and initiatives at the intersection of AI and climate action in Asia.
Cutting through the hype of climate AI
In this edition, we provide a high-level overview of the intersection of climate change and AI in the Asian context, highlighting key issues and emerging research areas.
The State of (power) Play: Energy Justice and AI
In this issue, we examine AI's role in Asia's energy sector, balancing efficiency gains with energy justice concerns. We explore AI’s role in smart grids, predictive cooling, and decentralised systems, highlighting the many considerations needed to shape equitable and sustainable energy transitions across the continent.
The Problem Space
Asia, with its vast and varied environments, faces some of the most pressing climate challenges globally. The region is the most disaster-prone in the world, enduring record-breaking heat waves in recent years, and is home to many of the fastest-sinking cities.
Innovative digital technologies, including AI, are expected to play a pivotal role in rapidly scaling climate solutions. While many Asia-Pacific countries have already integrated the innovation and deployment of climate technologies into their climate change strategies, the landscape is marked by disparities and gaps across key indicators.
Research by Digital Futures Lab in 2023 revealed critical gaps in Asia’s current climate tech and AI ecosystem, including:
Insufficient Investments
Increased funding in climate tech and AI is needed, including for the development of comprehensive data sets, robust evaluation metrics, and capacity building.
Our Objectives
Promote Dialogue
Facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue among key stakeholders, focusing on the long-term implications of current climate-tech decisions.
Raise Awareness
Increase awareness amongst stakeholders about the implications of the climate crisis, the potential of climate technologies, and the challenges and risks that must be addressed.
Create Knowledge Products
Develop and disseminate knowledge products to encourage responsible climate-tech investments across the region.
Our Approach
To achieve these goals, Digital Futures Lab will engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including scholars, technologists, and investors. Our efforts will centre on sparking conversations at the intersection of energy, agriculture, and green manufacturing.
is an interdisciplinary research and advisory firm studying the complex interactions between technology and society. Through evidence-based research, foresight, and public engagement, we work to develop pathways toward equitable, safe, and sustainable futures.
This project was commissioned by Earth Venture Foundation. The opinions expressed are our own, including any omissions or errors.