Code Green

Leaders at COP29 in Baku endorsed a declaration to use digital technologies and AI to address climate action, while also acknowledging the need to minimise its environmental impacts. How do we find this balance? Is it achievable at all? What new narratives and policy directions are needed? What does it mean for countries in Asia that are already grappling with the environmental impacts of rapid industrialisation?  In this episode, Cindy Lin and Sherif Elsayed-Ali critique AI's scalability and environmental costs while urging interdisciplinary approaches to ensure meaningful impact. They advocate for realistic narratives, collective restraint, and context-specific innovations, highlighting the need to distinguish hype from scientifically proven use cases to achieve sustainable advancements. You can read the transcript for this episode ⁠here.  Speakers Cindy Lin Cindy is an Assistant Professor at the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech. An ethnographer and information scientist, her work centers on the data practices, exchanges, and expertise of climate change and their relationship to race and environmental governance in Indonesia and the United States.  Prior to her professorship at Georgia Tech, she was assistant professor at the College of Information Sciences and Technology at the Pennsylvania State University. She was also a visiting postdoctoral fellow at Cornell Tech's Digital Life Initiative as well as a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell Atkinson Centre for Sustainability and Cornell's Department of Information Science.  Sherif Elsayed-Ali Sherif is Executive Director of the Future of Technology Institute, where he brings unique expertise at the intersection of technology policy, entrepreneurship and human rights. He previously co-founded and served as CEO of Carbon Re, a joint spin-out of Cambridge University and UCL using machine learning to accelerate the decarbonization of foundational materials such as cement.  Prior to this, he set up and led the AI for Climate practice at Canadian scale-up Element AI and was co-founder of Amnesty Tech. He was a World Economic Forum Global Future Council co-chair and a fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, both focusing on the intersection of technology and human rights.  Show Notes Conference of Parties 29 (COP29) COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Tech Future of Tech Institute Carbon Re Amnesty Tech Josiah Hester on Battery-less Devices Yale Program on Climate Change Communication - Climate Change in the Indonesian Mind Computing Net Zero Post-growth Human Computer Interaction Digital Energetics This podcast series is accompanied by a monthly newsletter - sign up for updates ⁠here⁠⁠. For more about this project, visit our website ⁠⁠codegreen.asia Credits Audio Editing: Creator Studio Goa by Winfluence Media  Production Support: Shivranjana Rathore  Cover Design: Nayantara Surendranath Attributions Intro and Outro: ⁠⁠Retro Sounds⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Alban_Gogh⁠⁠ Transitions - ⁠⁠Meditative Background Music⁠⁠, ⁠⁠white_records⁠

Climate change is disrupting agricultural practices, affecting food security and farmers' livelihoods. Technologies like AI-enabled precision agriculture are emerging as potential solutions to alleviate some of these problems. In Asia, where most farmers are smallholders and a digital divide persists, what are the implications of AI adoption for agriculture in the region? Can it help address the climate crisis or is it likely to exacerbate existing inequities? In this episode, we deep-dive into the opportunities, challenges and risks of using AI for agriculture and how it might impact climate change. For the most part, our speakers are sceptical about the use of AI for agriculture, highlighting that it may not be what farmers need and ultimately serves narrow commercial interests. If we are to use AI for agriculture, we need to resist the fail-fast logic that dominates the start-up industry and invest the time and resources to engage with farming communities and understand their needs and social context. You can read the episode transcript ⁠here. Speakers Anubha Singh Anubha is a PhD candidate at the School of Information at the University of Michigan with a graduate certificate in Science, Technology, and Society. Through long-term ethnography of the onion supply chain in Western Maharashtra, she studies how data-driven technologies are restructuring farming and redefining the future of agriculture in India. Her work is informed by and contributes to the fields of Postcolonial and Feminist Science and Technology Studies, Ethnography of Computing and Agriculture, and Critical Cultural Studies. Elenita ”Neth” Daño Elenita, also known as Neth, is the Asia Director of the ETC Group that works to address the socioeconomic and ecological issues surrounding new technologies that could have an impact on marginalised communities. Neth is a researcher who has done in-depth analysis and published work on various issues in agriculture and climate change as well as technological divides, in developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. She has represented environmental non-governmental organisations in the Advisory Board to the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), the operational arm of the Technology Mechanism of the UNFCCC. She was appointed by the UN Secretary-General in the 10-member Group that supports the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) in 2016-2017. Show Notes A commentary on agricultural digitalisation for climate action in the Philippines. Page 17. Expert brief authored by Elenita Dano for the AI + Climate Futures in Asia Project. The Green Revolution is a warning, not a blueprint for feeding a hungry planet Digital Agriculture Mission: Tech for Transforming Farmers’ Lives Agristack and digital registry of farmers in India Digital India Indian Government Seed Fund Scheme for Start-up Prototypes The Politics of Manmohanomics 1991 Economic Liberalisation in India Agriculture sector has done well, needs ‘re-orientation’  Code Green A commentary on agricultural digitalisation for climate action in the Philippines. Page 14. Expert brief authored by Elenita Dano for the AI + Climate Futures in Asia Project. Philippine Rice Research Institute Indian farmers rack up carbon credits with climate-conscious ways OpenAI CEO Altman says at Davos future AI depends on energy breakthrough Report: Thinking about using AI? Green Web Foundation Data centre water consumption | npj Clean Water The Battle Over Semiconductors Is Endangering Taiwan This podcast series is accompanied by a monthly newsletter - sign up for updates ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. For more about this project, visit our website ⁠⁠codegreen.asia Credits Audio Editing: Creator Studio Goa by Winfluence Media Production Support: Shivranjana Rathore and Meredith Stinger Cover Design: Nayantara Surendranath Attributions Intro and Outro: ⁠⁠Retro Sounds⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Alban_Gogh⁠⁠ Transitions - ⁠⁠Meditative Background Music⁠⁠, ⁠⁠white_records

Geospatial AI is the use of AI-based tools for analysing any type of geographic information derived from sources such as satellite imagery, aerial drones, and geographic information systems (GIS). These technologies can be employed in resource management, disaster response, and conservation efforts, offering real-time monitoring and analysis of ecosystems and natural resources.  In this episode, we explore the potential and limitations of using Geospatial AI for climate action. The conversation ranges from trends in democratisation of map-making with easy-to-use GIS tools to the risks and ethical concerns that are associated with the use of GIS data. Our guests discuss the need for community involvement, factoring in local knowledge systems, and ensuring equitable access when it comes to Geospatial AI. They discuss the potential environmental costs and the importance of funding and transparency in technology implementation.  You can read the transcript for this episode here. Speakers Cathy Richards Cathy is the Associate for Digital Resilience and Emerging Technology at The Engine Room. Recently, as a Green Web Fellow, she investigated the benefits, ethical questions, and security risks associated with using GIS for environmental justice. Cathy holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Boston University and an MPA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She is from Costa Rica. Izni ZahidiIzni is a Civil Engineering academic at Monash University, Malaysia and has over 16 years of academic and industry experience. Her primary research is in using remote sensing, GIS, and modelling to develop sustainable and climate-resilient communities. Her research team assesses environmental risks such as flooding, water pollution, vegetation degradation, and urban heat island effect to improve natural resources management. Her research work has won a Gold Award, Silver Award, and Special Award as selected by the Toronto International Society of Innovation and Advanced Skills in the international competition, Sustainability in Civil Engineering Exhibition and Competition. Show Notes Geospatial AI or Geo AI (glossary term)  ArcGIS, Esri’s enterprise geospatial platform QGIS, a free and open-source platform Felt Maps, a cloud-native platform Artificial intelligence for predicting urban heat island effect and optimising land use/land cover for mitigation: Prospects and recent advancements, research paper co-authored by Izni Zahidi Modelling public social values of flood-prone land use using GIS application SolVES, research article co-authored by Izni Zahidi Internet of Things or IoT (glossary term) Tracking Amazon: How Neighbors Are Monitoring Pollution From New Delivery Hub Wireless Sensors Could be Less Effective in Muddy Soil How the “Internet of Cows” is Transforming Livestock Farming in Europe Northern Kenya leads the way in the world's largest IoT conservation network Semantic Analysis of Social Network Site Data for Flood Mapping and Assessment, research paper co-authored by Izni Zahidi Green Web Fellowship Navigating GIS, a guide by Cathy Richards The RECONECT Project: Regenerating Ecosystems with Nature-based Solutions for Hydro-meteorological Risk Reduction AI + Climate Futures in Asia This podcast series is accompanied by a monthly newsletter - sign up for updates ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. For more about this project, visit our website ⁠⁠codegreen.asia Credits Audio Editing: Sharon Joseph and Shivranjana Rathore Cover Art: Nayantara Surendranath/Pastelstew Attributions Intro and Outro: ⁠⁠Retro Sounds⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Alban_Gogh⁠⁠

The climate crisis has pushed parts of Asia past a tipping point, making urgent solutions critical. While tech solutions like AI-driven smart agriculture and energy management are emerging, there's little understanding of the extent of their adoption and impact. How will AI fare in contexts underscored by issues of digital divide, data challenges and financial gaps? In episode zero of the Code Green podcast, we speak to leading experts on the intersection of AI and climate action in Asia from a policy, technology and finance lens. Our guests highlight the many opportunities for AI in climate adaptation, environmental costs and pathways needed to ensure climate justice in the long run. Speakers Elina Noor, Senior Fellow, Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Elina's work focuses on developments in Southeast Asia, particularly the impact and implications of tech in reshaping power dynamics, governance and nation-building. She's been the director of political-security affairs and deputy director of the Washington DC office at the Asia Society Policy Institute; and associate professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu. Elina has spent most of her career at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia, last as director, foreign policy and security studies. She was also with the Brookings Institution’s Project on US Relations with the Islamic World, and currently serves on the UN Sec-Gen’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. Alpan Raval, Chief Scientist AI/ML, Wadhwani AI Alpan is a theoretical physicist, in the applied AI space for the last 24 years, applying ML to problems in computational biology and chemistry, queuing, computational advertising, online newsfeed optimisation and content moderation, public health, and agriculture. Alpan has led applied AI teams at LinkedIn and Amazon, worked as a researcher at D E Shaw Research; and taught mathematics and computational biology at the Claremont Colleges in California. He is the co-author of Introduction to Biological Networks (CRC Press).  Varad Pande, Partner, Boston Consulting Group Varad is a leader in BCG’s Climate & Sustainability and Social Impact practices with a focus on emerging markets. He is part of BCG’s Asia leadership team for social impact, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. He has over 20 years of global experience as a senior ministerial advisor, an impact investor, and strategy consultant. Varad’s work has spanned UN Sustainable Development Goal domains such as financial inclusion, agriculture and livelihoods; and he has helped shape the global discourse on the role of digital public infrastructure (DPI) in accelerating the achievement of the SDGs. Varad was formerly a Partner at Omidyar Network India, and a partner and Asia Leader at Dalberg. This podcast is accompanied by a monthly newsletter - sign up here⁠⁠. Find the transcript here and visit codegreen.asia⁠⁠ Credits Audio Editing: Sharon Joseph Production Support: Shivranjana Rathore Attributions Intro, Outro - ⁠⁠Retro Sounds⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Alban_Gogh⁠⁠ Transitions - ⁠⁠Meditative Background Music⁠⁠, ⁠⁠white_records⁠⁠ Show notes Check out resources referenced in the episode: ⁠⁠IEEE portfolio of AIS technology and impact standards and standards projects⁠⁠ ⁠⁠International Standard on information Technology-Artificial Intelligence-Management System⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Nikshay Platform for Tuberculosis⁠⁠ ⁠⁠E-Sanjeevini for doctor-patient consultation⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Poshan Tracker for maternal and child health⁠⁠ ⁠⁠WEF-BCG Project on Tech for Climate Adaptation⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Financing Climate Adaptation and Resilience Is Good for Business and the World⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Transport Stack – Powering Innovation and Impact with Digital Public Infrastructure & Goods⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet⁠⁠ ⁠⁠IF-CAP by Asian Development Bank⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Pentagreen⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Malaysia Energy Transition Roadmap + Fund⁠⁠ Digital Futures Lab study on ⁠⁠AI + Climate Futures in Asia⁠⁠ (2023)

Welcome to Code Green! Brought to you by ⁠Digital Futures Lab⁠, in partnership with ⁠Earth Venture Foundation⁠, Code Green is a podcast and newsletter series that deep dives into the intersection of AI and climate-tech in Asia. Cutting through the hype and silos of knowledge, Code Green will foster interdisciplinary knowledge exchange and surface voices from the ground. Through this season and an accompanying monthly newsletter, we will showcase emerging climate AI research and provide a socio-technical perspective on the implications of adopting AI for climate action. Sign up for updates ⁠here⁠. Credits Audio Editing: Sharon Joseph and Shivranjana Rathore Attributions Intro and Outro - ⁠Retro Sounds⁠, ⁠Alban_Gogh⁠ Transitions - ⁠Meditative Background Music⁠, ⁠white_records⁠