How Can Artificial Intelligence Combat Climate Change?

Provided by: Council on Foreign Relations |Published on: September 15, 2023

Lesson Plans

9101112AP

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Synopsis

This section explores the nature of artificial intelligence (AI), how AI could be used to fight climate change, and the ways AI could exacerbate climate change.
There is a linked lesson plan for grades 9-12 and a linked discussion guide for higher education classes.
This is the fourteenth section of the World 101 Climate Change module.

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Subjects: Engineering, Computer Science

Authors: CFR Education

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

This section is nuanced, fair, and well-organized.
This section examines the minerals that AI technologies require.

Additional Prerequisites

Students should know what greenhouse gas emissions are and how they impact the Earth's climate.
If you click the words "Get the data" under the chart, you'll download a CSV file that can be used in a number of spreadsheet programs.

Differentiation

To assess prior knowledge, the teacher can ask the class questions about AI before reading the section.
For this section, teachers can go over the main idea of key paragraphs in order to ensure comprehension.
This section could enhance a classroom discussion on other methods of climate mitigation and how they compare to AI.
Teachers could use this section as a conceptual introduction to electronic waste and how it impacts the environment.
To extend the topic, have students think about the safety issues of public or shared transportation that women, children, and the elderly face or the higher energy demands of more electronic devices instead of using human-powered thinking.

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About the Partner Provider

CFR Education from the Council on Foreign Relations

CFR Education provides accurate, accessible, authoritative resources that build the knowledge, skills, and perspective high school and higher education students need to understand and engage with today’s most pressing global issues.

Scientist Reviewed

This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.

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How Can Artificial Intelligence Combat Climate Change?

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

About the Partner Provider

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources