How Can Artificial Intelligence Combat Climate Change?
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Provided by: Council on Foreign Relations|Published on: September 15, 2023
Lesson Plans
Scientist Reviewed
9101112AP
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
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.

Subjects: Engineering, Computer Science
Authors: CFR Education
Region: Global
Languages: English
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.
Scientist Notes
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Resource Type and Format
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.
Learn about our review process →




