One of the quotes from Speak Carbon Collective’s “go to” documentary, Climate Change – The Facts which rings in my head is:
“we are seeing the impacts of climate change now play out in real time … they are no longer subtle …”.
Firstly – the documentary was made in 2019(!). 2024 is widely expected to be the hottest on record. The scientific data is becoming less and less important next to the human witness statements from the millions of people now caught up in the destruction our rapidly warming climate is bringing.
Secondly – thinking about these people – it seems effective communication, connection and engagement are more critical than ever.
When watching the warnings of David Attenborough and the cast of global experts and vivid film making in that film, it is easy to think nothing has changed over the five years since its release. But there one key thing that definitely has. In 2024 the scientific data and human experience have been thrust together with the advancement of artificial intelligence. Working in an organisation which predominantly facilitates “human intelligence”, how AI might play a role in our climate challenge is a key discussion.
There are several contradictory facets to the conversation around AI and climate. Artificial intelligence and its data processing capabilities might allow us to spot early signs of floods and storms, or coordinate the energy grid to take advantage of renewable but inconsistent power sources. However, the capabilities we have seen through social media for AI to create targeted and automated messages has been contentious (at best), and the spread of disinformation that it is in part driving, has the potential to undermine key messaging on climate. The flip side of that though is that insights into what engages people effectively could (and I do mean could) be used for effective climate communication in the future. The final (and perhaps most worrying) piece here is that the data hungry AI processing power which is doubling every 100 days is also potentially an accelerant for fossil fuelled electricity generation. AI is even found to be helping increase oil production in a recent investigation.
Outside of this complex conversation, one thing remains simple. Climate communication is not just about facts, figures and data; it’s about convincing people to care and act. Human intelligence is exceptional at tapping into emotions, empathy, and moral values. We as people can craft narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, making the climate crisis feel personal and urgent. In our workshops, the stories of people directly affected by extreme weather are much more powerful motivators for action than all the science and policy we cover.
Maybe (again I stress, only maybe) it is when artificial intelligence combines with human intelligence that the results could mark a real shift in our efforts to find transformative changes in our climate mitigation and resilience. While AI offers the opportunity for data processing and targeted communication, human intelligence is essential for building trust, fostering empathy, and ensuring that the voices of vulnerable communities are heard.
This debate has hardly begun, but we know that both AI and our changing climate are moving at a pace which will have profound effects on our existence over the next few years. It might be however, that the most important factor in a positive outcome for all, is whether our “human intelligence” can keep up the pace.