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.
Elina Noor, Alpan Raval, and Varad Pandey on AI’s role in climate action across Asia through the lens of policy, technology, and finance.
Cathy Richards and Izni Zahidi on the democratisation of map-making, and the ethical risks arising from the use of GIS data.
Elenita Daño and Anubha Singh share insights from their research on how the shifting landscape of agritech is impacting Asia’s farmers.
Cindy Lin and Sherif Elsayed-Ali discuss the implications of AI adoption for climate action, given issues of scalability, market narratives, and environmental costs
Code Green Newsletter
A monthly newsletter showcasing the latest interdisciplinary research and initiatives at the intersection of AI and climate action in Asia.
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.
In this issue, we examine AI's role in Asia's energy sector, balancing efficiency gains with energy justice concerns. We explore promising innovations and the many considerations needed to shape equitable and sustainable energy transitions across the continent.
In this issue, we explore opportunities in AI for agriculture in Asia, inequities in farming ecosystems and their interactions with technology, farmer perceptions and motivations for technology adoption, and approaches to building trustworthy and inclusive AI applications for agriculture.
GeoAI unlocks insights from spatial data, but raises power and trust concerns. We examine data sources, risks, and frameworks for responsible GeoAI development.
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.
Climate Action: Bridging the Gaps
Decisive action is needed to facilitate a just transition towards climate-resilient economies and societies in Asia. In 2023, Digital Futures Lab assembled a network of experts to explore AI's role in climate action in Asia, examining opportunities, challenges, and risks across agriculture, energy, and disaster response sectors. This Research revealed critical gaps in the 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.
Research and practice communities often operate in silos, with limited engagement between investors, climate scientists, and civil society organisations. Lack of engagement with ground-level communities risks the marginalisation of groups already vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
There is limited interdisciplinary understanding of climate challenges and the technological interventions needed to address them.
Current approaches to problem diagnosis and solution design are often top-down and lack contextual relevance to the lived experiences of key stakeholders.
Our Objectives
To help bridge these gaps, we 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.
Facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue among key stakeholders, focusing on the long-term implications of current climate-tech decisions.
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.
Develop and disseminate knowledge products to encourage responsible climate-tech investments across the region.
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.
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.