Can new technology and Artificial Intelligence really be a game-changer in the fight against climate change and disasters?
Before getting into different perspectives, let’s start with what recent research and data say.
AI is now seen as a crucial tool in tackling climate change and managing natural disaster outcomes. The World Economic Forum and MIT Media Lab’s report: “Charting the Future of Earth Observation”, highlights how AI helps quickly process massive amounts of data from the latest satellites.
AI can also speed up disaster response. For example, during Hurricane Beryl in 2024, the Damage Assessment Visualizer used AI to track the storm’s impact in hours instead of days. Due to its rapid intensification and erratic path, Beryl represented a challenge to meteorologists and AI was able to provide a more accurate, faster prediction of Beryl’s path, allowing communities to prepare sooner. It also simulated the storm’s intensity, making evacuation decisions easier.
This shows indeed how AI can improve responses to future disasters, but to gain more insight into my main question, I wanted to hear from others. So, I conducted two interviews with Sebastian F. and Ryan B., both interested in AI and emerging technologies, to find out their views on how technology can help with climate challenges.
The Interviews:
Both participants were informed of the topic beforehand via Zoom meeting and were shown a short video (https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum/video/2 ) from the World Economic Forum on tech for climate action. Finally, we agreed on using a chat-based interview format. This approach was chosen for several reasons: both interviewees preferred privacy and did not wish to be filmed or recorded. Additionally, the chat method was more practical, given the distance—I am currently based in the south of France, while my interviewees are in Sweden and the U.S.—and the differing time zones (CET and MST).
For the interview process, I adhered to principles outlined in the “Strategies for Qualitative Interviews” guide. Specifically, I focused on the following:
1. Clearly defining the interview’s purpose—gaining experienced insights into the potential of new tech for climate change.
2. Asking one question at a time to encourage more detailed responses.
3. Using direct questions to tap into the interviewees’ expertise.
4. Starting with an introductory question to let them introduce themselves comfortably.
5. Ensuring the interviewees appreciated the research topic to maintain ethical sensitivity.
I also referenced “Am I Not Answering the Question Properly?” by Irvine, Drew, and Sainsbury (2013), which highlights the advantages of telephone interviews, such as time and cost efficiency, and increased anonymity when discussing sensitive topics (p.88). Though telephone interviews can feel unnatural, the authors note that many people are accustomed to using phones in both informal and formal settings, like counselling services and more (p.90).
Additionally, I used the article “Online ‘Chatting’ Interviews: An Acceptable Method for Qualitative Data Collection” by Gunawan, Marzilli, and Aungsuroch (2022) to support my decision. The article explains that geographical and logistical challenges, along with emergency situations, often necessitate online interviews. It also reassures that the validity and reliability of data collected through chat-based methods remain intact (p.278). Furthermore, it emphasizes that researchers should prioritize participants’ comfort, noting that some respondents may feel embarrassed to appear on camera, making chat interviews a better alternative.
During the interviews, I asked the same key questions but observed interesting differences in the responses – key points of both interviews can be found in a separate file in Bibliography.
My conversation with Sebastian F., a Software Engineer at Axis Communications in Lund, Sweden, was more professionally focused. He shared insights into the company’s use of AI-driven vision cameras for early fire detection systems, which can reduce damage and speed up emergency responses (https://newsroom.axis.com/blog/camera-fire-fighting). According to him, the main challenge in applying new technology of this kind to climate issues is the significant financial investment required.
On the other hand, my discussion with Ryan B. was more passion-driven. He focused on the potential of AI for predicting weather shifts and optimizing renewable energy. He also highlighted the role of virtual reality (VR) in educating the public about climate change through immersive experiences.
The differences in the interviews highlight how varied perspectives on the same topic can be, depending on professional background and personal passion.
While Sebastian approached the conversation with a practical, business-oriented lens—focusing on the technological solutions already in place and the financial barriers—Ryan brought a more visionary approach, discussing future applications like VR as a tool for education and public engagement. These contrasting viewpoints reflect the diversity of expertise and enthusiasm driving innovation in technology for climate change, emphasizing that both practical implementation and creative application are vital to addressing the issue.
The insights gathered from the interviews also perfectly align with the WEF report previously mentioned, particularly the successful use of AI during Hurricane Beryl to predict its trajectory and potential damage. This case underscores the critical role that AI can play in disaster prevention and mitigation, echoing the points made by both interviewees.
Going back to my original research question, it is evident that new technologies and AI can indeed shape the future of climate change responses—whether through disaster prevention, education, or advances in farming, energy production, and transportation. The potential applications of these technologies are vast, providing solutions not only for tackling climate issues but also for revolutionizing how we live and interact with the environment.
Key Learning and Writing Experience:
From this interview I learned the importance of integrating others’ perspectives into my writing, which adds depth and insight. Formulating questions with a clear goal in mind is essential to steer the conversation toward valuable findings. Additionally, interviews introduced an element of unpredictability that isn’t present when writing alone, offering new and unexpected angles on the topic.
Moreover, this exercise aligned perfectly with my passion for connecting with others. Conducting interviews provided a richer perspective, allowing me to write with more nuance. Bringing together multiple viewpoints on the same subject presented an exciting challenge—crafting a cohesive narrative while giving equal weight to each idea.
And you readers? What do you think about technology for climate action?
Aurora L.
Bibliography:
Gunawan, J., Marzilli, C., & Aungsuroch, Y. (2022). Online ‘chatting’ interviews: An acceptable method for qualitative data collection. Belitung Nursing Journal, 8(4), 277–279.
https://www.belitungraya.org/BRP/index.php/bnj/article/view/225
Irvine, A., Drew, P., & Sainsbury, R. (2013). Am I Not Answering the Question Properly? Qualitative Research 2013.
http://qrj.sagepub.com/content/13/1/87
International Organization for Migration (2024). Damage Assessment Visualizer.https://www.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl486/files/documents/2024-08/iom-beryl-response-damage-assessment-28-august-2024.pdf
MIT Media Lab & World Economic Forum. (2024). Charting the Future of Earth Observation.
https://www.weforum.org/publications/charting-the-future-of-earth-observation/
New York Times. (2024). AI and Weather Forecasting: Tracking Hurricanes.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/07/29/science/ai-weather-forecast-hurricane.html
2immersive4u. (2024). How AI Transforms Hurricane Tracking: The Case of Hurricane Beryl.https://2immersive4u.com/2024/07/01/how-ai-transforms-hurricane-tracking-the-case-of-hurricane-beryl-stories-about-ai/
Strategies for Qualitative Interviews. – This text was provided by my professors as part of the course materials, and no external link is available.-
Always interesting to think about where the development of tech might lead us. Happy to see that our interview became part of such a well written article 🙂