AI for a planet under pressure

The report, titled “AI for a Planet Under Pressure”, shows that AI holds vast potential to improve understanding of complex Earth systems, enhance decision-making, and advance sustainability science - but only if applied ethically, fairly, and transparently. While AI alone cannot solve sustainability challenges, it can help identify hidden patterns in environmental data, model risks more accurately, and support better collective decisions, the authors of the report write. They find that current efforts insufficiently address vulnerable regions and communities.

Released on 5 November in Brussels, the report also underlines that AI’s environmental footprint, data biases, and unequal access to computational power require clear governance frameworks and ethical standards. The authors call for investments in energy-efficient, equitable, and transparent AI applications, as well as for stronger interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration. Responsible applications of AI in sustainability research represent an opportunity the world cannot afford to miss, the authors of the report argue.

Harnessing AI’s potential in an inclusive and transparent way could be key to building a safer, fairer, and more resilient planet. The responsibility now lies with sustainability researchers, companies, technology entrepreneurs, funders, and decision-makers to shape AI development alongside human insight, guiding society toward better decisions for a safer, fairer, and more resilient planet.