Climate change and artificial intelligence: opportunities and challenges

Abstract

Climate change is an important problem that defines our era. The negative effects of climate change bring important social, economic, and environmental consequences. Today, the use of artificial intelligence in combating these problems is increasing and there are many applications in different fields. The two most important strategies in combating climate change defined by the United Nations are greenhouse gas mitigation and adapting to the existing and potential impacts of climate change. The use of artificial intelligence offers important opportunities to decision makers and researchers in order to develop existing understanding and practices in the field of both greenhouse gas mitigation and adaptation, and to identify different perspectives and strategies. However, artificial intelligence systems also create new social and ethical problems in these processes and cause a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. This makes the use of artificial intelligence one of the factors that cause harm to human health and all living things by exacerbating climate change. The aim of this study is to evaluate the opportunities and problems created by artificial intelligence within the scope of combating climate change. As a result of the study, it has been concluded that the use of artificial intelligence will significantly support climate change combat and adaptation activities if it can be managed in the context of energy use, environmental effects, and carbon footprint and ethically.

Keywords

• Climate Change
• Artificial İntelligence
• Machine Learning
• Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
• Adaptation

İklim değişikliği ve yapay zekâ: fırsatlar ve sorunlar

Abstract

İklim değişikliği çağımızı tanımlayan önemli bir sorundur. İklim değişikliğinin olumsuz etkileri önemli sosyal, ekonomik ve çevresel sonuçları beraberinde getirmektedir. Söz konusu sonuçlarla mücadele edilmesinde günümüzde yapay zekâ kullanımı giderek artmaktadır ve farklı alanlarda pek çok uygulama söz konusudur. Birleşmiş Milletler tarafından iklim değişikliğiyle mücadelede en önemli iki strateji; sera gazı azaltımı ve iklim değişikliğinin halihazırda ortaya çıkan ve çıkması muhtemel etkilerine uyum sağlanması olarak belirtilmektedir. Yapay zekâ kullanımı hem sera gazı azaltımı hem de uyum alanında mevcut anlayışın ve uygulamaların geliştirilmesi ve farklı bakış açılarının ve stratejilerin belirlenmesi doğrultusunda karar vericilere ve araştırmacılara önemli fırsatlar sunmaktadır. Ancak yapay zekâ sistemleri bir yandan da bu süreçlerde yeni sosyal ve etik sorunlar ortaya çıkartmakta ve sera gazı emisyonlarında önemli artışa da neden olmaktadır. Bu ise yapay zekâ kullanımını, iklim değişikliğini şiddetlendirerek insan sağlığının ve tüm canlıların zarar görmesine neden olan etkenlerden biri haline getirmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, yapay zekânın iklim değişikliğiyle mücadele kapsamında ortaya çıkardığı fırsatların ve sorunların değerlendirilmesidir. Çalışma sonucunda, yapay zekâ kullanımının enerji kullanımı, çevresel etkiler ve karbon ayak izi bağlamlarında ve etik açıdan iyi bir biçimde yönetilebilmesi halinde iklim değişikliğiyle mücadele ve uyum faaliyetlerini önemli ölçüde desteklediği sonucu elde edilmiştir.

Keywords

• İklim Değişikliği
• Yapay Zekâ
• Makine Öğrenmesi
• Sera Gazı Azaltımı
• Uyum

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