UN SDGs
SustAInability
What if AI were to play a key role in the global struggle for a sustainable future for the good of planet, people and profit?
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) represent a global call to action to address pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. As we approach the critical milestone of 2030, it is imperative to leverage the cutting-edge technology of AI to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.
What is it about the SDGs and AI ?
Our planet faces serious economic, social, and environmental challenges, and there is anxiety about a world out of balance and the path toward a multicrisis and bleak future. However, amidst this concern, there lies hope in the form of technology, particularly the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as a powerful tool in our collective arsenal. Another promising tool - the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)- serves as a globally agreed framework to identify and address some of the world's most pressing challenges by mobilizing global action and cooperation. Connecting both could lead to a more sustainable future and ultimately overcome the complex challenges that lie ahead.
image © ESA Business Applications: AI-driven drones analysis tool to help cope with the aftermath of Harvey's Texas coast destruction
THE UN SDGs - A UNIVERSAL BLUEPRINT…
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected global goals with 169 targets established by the United Nations in 2015. They serve as a universal, shared call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. The SDGs were adopted by all UN Member States as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, reflecting a shared commitment to address pressing global challenges.
…WITH A CONCERNING MID-TERM PICTURE:
15%
SDGs on track or target met
48%
SDGs with fair progress, but acceleration needed
37%
SDGs with stagnation or regression
Source: UN SDGs Progress Chart 2023
The A midpoint evaluation of SDG achievement on the journey to 2030 reveals significant challenges. Insight derived from the latest global-level data paints a concerning picture. Among the assessable targets, only one out of seven are on track to be achieved by 2030. Nearly half of the targets - show moderate or severe deviations from the desired trajectory. Furthermore, over one-third of the targets have experienced no progress or, even worse, have regressed below the 2015 baseline. This assessment underscores the urgent need for intensified efforts to ensure the Sustainable Development Goals stay on course.
Progress assessment for each of the 17 SDGs based on assessed targets (own illustration, Source: UN 2023)
AI - THE NEXT FRONTIER…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that can perform tasks requiring human-like intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, or understanding language.It uses algorithms to process vast amounts of data and makes decisions based on that data.
AI includes among others, machine or deep learning, natural language processing, or computer vision. It's increasingly applied in various fields like healthcare, finance, or autonomous vehicles, but at the same time raises ethical considerations as it advances.
…TAKEN UP BY THE INDUSTRY:
53%
accelerated their rollout of AI
28%
have a holistic AI strategy in place
35%
use of AI in their business
Global AI adoption continues across larger companies (Source: IBM)
Nowadays, with the great attention of governments and the gradual formation of the industrial structure, artificial intelligence is in the stage of rapid growth. The breakthrough in the development stems from a number of factors, including the increasing availability of data and computing power, the emergence of excellent algorithms, and the development of new AI technologies and methods, also for consumer applications. AI adoption is highest in certain industries, such as high tech and tele-communications, financial services, and healthcare and pharmaceuticals. However, AI is also being used in a wide range of other industries, as it is becoming more and more a key economic success factor. Besides the growing recognition of the benefits and convenience AI and its applications can bring to people, there are also increasing concerns about the various security risks and socio-political effects.
According to IBM's Global AI Adoption Index 2022, around 35% of organizations worldwide are using AI (+4% from 2021), while 42% are exploring AI solutions for their business.
AI in Sustainability - what’s the take?
Around the world, the adoption of AI and its impact on businesses and society stands at a turning point. Most people already benefit from it in their daily lives - intentionally or unintentionally - through increased comfort or safety. At the same time, the use of AI in some industries and countries is practically ubiquitous, and organizations and businesses are applying AI also to more far-reaching challenges with greater social impact, like addressing skills or labor shortages or helping to advance environmental issues. Leveraging the synergy of applying sustainable strategy & and policies as an overall Northstar vision on the one hand, and harnessing the transformative data-based capabilities of AI on the other hand has a great potential to accelerate progress toward a more sustainable and resilient future.
image © WeWalk: WeWalk’s AI-supported computer vision on a smart cane for visually impaired people
SUSTAINABLE AI - A PROMISING PROJECTION…
In the coming years, governments and big corporations, in particular, will push the adoption of AI technologies to improve their climate goals. According to a report by Microsoft and PwC, applying AI tools across industries could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4% by 2030, equivalent to the annual emissions of Australia, Canada, and Japan combined.
Additionally, implementing AI for climate-related optimization could increase global GDP by 3.1 - 4.4% by 2030. Key areas of development will be four sectors where AI can play a critical role in climate intelligence: Agriculture, Energy, Water, and Transport.
…WITH WORLDWIDE EFFECTS:
+4,4%
GDP contribution ($5.2 Tr)
-4%
GHGs mitigation (-2.4 GT)
+1%
New Net jobs (+38.2 millions)
Global impact of environmental AI by 2030 on GDP and GHG emissions (Source: Microsoft & PwC)
For the first time in 2022, international research polled companies on the use of AI in their sustainability initiatives and found that AI is poised to play a growing role in the coming years. Two out of three companies are currently planning to apply AI to address their sustainability goals, and only 10% of IT professionals do not see sustainability as important to their business. Of the companies already deploying AI today, a large majority are applying AI to sustainability-related challenges, primarily to accelerate their ESG initiatives, and another 17% have plans to do so.
The ways AI is used for environmental risk analysis and sustainability by IT professionals at companies (IBM)
Although there is no internationally agreed definition of artificial intelligence, this paper considers AI to be any software technology that possesses at least one of the six capabilities listed on the right, which currently represent the state of the art, but are also prerequisites for all future AI developments and innovations. This view encompasses a variety of AI subfields, including machine and deep learning (ML and DL), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computer vision, etc., and allows to consider a broad range of potential “Sustainable AI” applications and tools that can help progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Key capabilities of artificial intelligence for sustainable applications (own illustration)
AI and the SDGs, a dream team?
The combination of AI and the SDGs allows a unique, action-oriented approach across the 17 SDGs and their associated 169 targets to accelerate progress toward holistic sustainability. AI-powered processing and analysis of large amounts of environmental, social, and economic data and information could address each of the goals and targets through customized and tailored interventions. Promoting inclusive growth, equitable distribution of resources, or effective climate resilience measures, to name just a few.
image © PRI: AI-driven image capture and analysis to combat poaching of endangered species
THE EXPECTATIONS ON SUSTAINABLE AI :
“Will AI play a key role in achieving a sustainable future?”
AI-optimised Efficiency
AI-improved Contextual Understanding
AI-identified Irregularities
Reasoning for sustainable Impact of AI
10%
Need for clear regulations and guidelines
Effects of AI on Sustainability (Source: non-representative survey among participants of academic program ‘Sustainability Management’)
To demonstrate the impacts of AI on the SDGs, following some of the many possible approaches and interventions of how sustainable AI can contribute to achieving each of the individual SDGs.
AI AND THE SDGs - THE BOTTOM LINE:
To put it very simply, the influence of AI on the SDGs is primarily demonstrated by improved efficiency and automatization, capturing complex interrelationships, and uncovering shortcomings. All this is primarily enabled by data tracking and analysis, data-based modeling and prediction, as well as data-driven monitoring and operations. This is particularly reflected in areas and industries that are heavily dependent on technology and are becoming more and more digitalized, such as energy supply, mobility, agriculture, and medicine.
The positive effects of AI are already noticeable here, also in terms of sustainability. In contrast, the influence of AI in socio-economic areas such as inequality, discrimination, educational opportunities, etc. is not yet that noticeable. However, this will change significantly in the coming years with the further spread - and acceptance - of AI, so the positive effect of sustainable AI will also become apparent here.
Possible impact of sustainable AI on each of the SDGs (low/medium/high, based on a simplified personal assessment)
The application and impact of AI for each individual Sustainable Development Goal also affects other SDGs due to their interrelationships and mutual influence. For example, AI-enabled access to education for hard-to-reach regions or underprivileged population groups means a mitigation
of inequality (SDG10) and might also be a possible first step out of poverty (SDG1). The following is a schematic overview of the various interdependencies between the AI strategies presented in this paper and the different SDGs.
Possible related SDGs impacted by sustainable AI (based on a simplified personal assessment)
So now - where are we heading to ?
Although AI is still a young technology, it is obvious, that it has a significant potential for a positive impact on all dimensions of sustainability. But it is not a panacea. Ethical considerations, transparency, and ensuring that AI benefits are distributed equitably are just a few aspects to consider in the application of AI for sustainability. Additionally, responsible collaborations between all stakeholders - governments, enterprises, and communities - are essential for unlocking the full potential of AI in creating a sustainable society and economy. And, most importantly public perceptions and concerns regarding AI like trustworthiness, upheavals in the labor market, or data and privacy protection need to be taken seriously, and appropriate policies and measures put into place.
Enormous challenges to overcome...but a possible silver lining on the horizon.
image © USAA: AI-driven satellite imaging and analysis tool to monitor impacts of droughts in the Sahel region in Ethiopia
Things to keep in mind:
1
Embracing AI for a Sustainable Development
AI will make a significant difference in achieving the SDGs. Investing in AI research and development, educating about AI, incentive innovative visions and ideas, and supporting the adoption of AI-powered tools and services can help to create a more sustainable future.
2
Impact of sustainable AI comes in all dimensions
Ensuring sustainable AI is applied in a responsible and ethical way, everybody can benefit. From the small-scale individual level like telehealth or personalized education, up to the large-scale level, like energy security. Sustainable impact in all dimensions and sizes.
3
Team up and Collaborate for effective AI Sustainability
Collaboration and multi-disciplinary partnerships at all levels and in all sectors are key to unlocking the full potential of AI for the SDGs. Even AI itself cannot act alone but needs several complementary technologies such as IoT or robotics to be truly impactful.
“Today as we sit at the intersection of the Artificial Intelligence age and the Anthropocene age, not enough has been done yet to bring these two worlds together."
Lucas Joppa, Chief Environmental Officer at Microsoft