Council Post: Can AI Help Design A More Sustainable Future?

As societies around the world take increasingly drastic measures to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, the collective response is having an unforeseen impact on the environment. For example, with factories closed and transportation restricted, China saw a 25% decline in carbon dioxide emissions over a four-week period. Similarly, New York City, with fewer restrictions than China, has still seen emissions fall by 5%-10%. It's as if by confronting one crisis, humankind has shown that it could also -- with the proper motivation -- confront another. Of course, like the pandemic itself, the drop in emissions will eventually come to an end, rebounding once restrictions on movement and economic activity ease.