Zamzam Channa
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the Summit on AI for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) said “artificial intelligence is changing our world and our lives and it can turbocharge sustainable development. From bringing education and healthcare to remote areas to helping farmers boost their crops, AI could be a game-changer for the SDGs.”
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has captured global attention by heralding transformative potential across various sectors. As the world grapples with multifaceted crises such as climate change, AI emerges as a transformative technology that can offer innovative solutions with the potential to revolutionize climate action by providing innovative solutions to emerging climate crisis. Predictive analytics, energy optimization, climate modeling, sustainable agriculture and carbon accounting are key applications of AI which can be utilized in mitigating climate change.
Pakistan, which ranks as the fifth most climate-vulnerable state globally, contributes minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions. According to the World Bank Group, Pakistan has already suffered an economic loss amounting to USD 29.3 billion due to the unprecedented climate-led disasters.
Along with other potential strategies like massive plantation drives and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, AI can be a potential response to the accelerating climate vulnerabilities. Leveraging AI in Pakistan can significantly help precision and smart agriculture, renewable energy optimisation as well as disaster prediction and response.
AI-Powered Farming
Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and is essential for ensuring food security. However, the country faces severe challenges as Pakistan ranks as the 12th most climate-affected nation globally and has one of the lowest per-acre yields in the world. The combination of rising temperatures and changing weather patterns is devastating crop production, leading to far-reaching consequences such as deteriorating food security, increasing poverty, and rapid urbanization.
These challenges demand urgent solutions to safeguard the future of agriculture in Pakistan and AI can offer that. One example of this is Farmdar, a Pakistan-based agro-tech startup with offices in Brazil and the APAC region.
Farmdar is leveraging AI and satellite technology to help farmers adapt to these new conditions and improve their agricultural productivity. By providing critical insights and data-driven recommendations, it empowers farmers to make informed decisions, optimize resources, and boost crop yields.
The platform’s AI-driven tools have proven particularly effective in yield prediction and risk assessment, achieving over 90 percent accuracy in both Pakistan and Brazil. This technological innovation not only helps farmers thrive despite the climate crisis but also offers a promising path toward mitigating the broader impacts of climate change on Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
Similarly, another Pakistani firm, Kalam, is using AI-based drone technology to offer high-tech solutions to local farmers, helping them save time, energy, and resources. The AI-powered drones assist farmers in analyzing crop health, precisely applying pesticides, and even planting seeds in optimal locations.
These progressive farming practices not only enhance yield production but also promote sustainability by reducing the need for chemical inputs and conserving water. By enabling more efficient and climate-friendly agricultural practices, Kalam’s technology contributes to the fight against climate change while supporting the long-term viability of Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
AI for Enhanced Disaster Preparedness
AI can fill the technological gaps in Pakistan by integrating advanced weather prediction models which help processing real-time data and rapid risk assessments. For instance, Pakistan has existing early warning systems developed by Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), which have previously played a crucial role in disaster preparedness and response. However, these systems have profound limitations in accuracy including timeliness and coverage. During 2022 floods in Pakistan, the lack of precise and timely warnings exacerbated the disaster’s impact, leading to massive displacements, loss of life and large-scale infrastructure damage in the country.
According to a report by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the 2022 floods resulted in USD 14.9 billion in infrastructure damage and USD 15.2 billion in economic losses. Estimated needs for rehabilitation and reconstruction in a resilient way required at least USD 16.3 billion.
In the global context, the United States is a leading example which has integrated AI in weather prediction and disaster response. The US is using an AI system called Graph Cast which predicts atmospheric conditions up to 10 days in advance with a significant accuracy. Implementing a similar AI-powered system by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and its provincial bodies could transform Pakistan’s disaster preparedness and response.
By processing vast amounts of meteorological data and identifying patterns that traditional models might not process accurately, AI-powered tools provide more accurate forecasts, allowing for better-preparedness and quicker response times.
AI-Driven Energy Solutions
Another important area is energy. AI-driven initiatives offer a practical and sustainable solutions by identifying optimal locations for solar and wind energy production, thus reducing carbon footprints in the country. For instance, AI has the capability to analyze satellite data, weather patterns and geographical information to identify pinpoint location which would be feasible for energy generation.
If utilized, AI can help optimize the operation of the renewable sources of energy. For instance, Machine learning algorithms can predict energy production based on weather forecasts, adjust the orientation of solar panels or the operation of wind turbines, including managing the distribution of energy across the grid to minimize waste. This kind of AI-driven precision can significantly enhance energy efficiency and reduce Pakistan’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Barriers to AI Adoption in Pakistan
While the potential of AI is vast, its implementation in Pakistan comes with challenges, including limited infrastructure, digital literacy and financial resources. For AI to be effective, Pakistan needs to prioritize investment in ‘high-impact areas’ such as agriculture, disaster management and energy conservation. Moreover, incentivizing private sector involvement along with diligent efforts by the public sector can help achieve the targeted goals: The government can offer tax breaks, subsidies and other incentives to private companies that invest in AI development.
The most important aspect of implementation of AI is building a skilled workforce which capable of advancing AI technologies. This can be achieved through integrating AI-related courses into existing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs at universities and vocational institutes.
As Pakistan faces the severity of climate change crisis, the integration of AI to climate change response strategy is not just an option but a necessity. Incorporating climate change considerations into the comprehensive National AI Policy (NAIP) – a policy which is yet to be published – would be a prudent policy option.
*The author is a research intern at The Diplomatic Insight.
*The opinions in this article are the author’s own and may not represent the views of The Diplomatic Insight. The organization does not endorse or assume responsibility for the content.
