Applied AI for Sustainability…Coming Soon

by Jeremy Tamanini, Dual Citizen LLC founder

This summer I am authoring a paper about applied AI for sustainability (publishing September at NYC Climate Week). This has little to do with large language models like ChatGPT that we hear so much about. Rather, applied AI refers to smaller, more targeted applications that address specific sustainability challenges (e.g. energy efficiency and cost savings, carbon reporting, supply chain optimization, scope 3 data collection, analytics, and more).

So far, the research has illuminated some trailblazing people & innovative ideas that I wanted to share with my network:

* The value that AI can bring to energy management is something no company or organization can afford to overlook in 2025. Verdantix is my favorite resource on this topic, particularly a recent webinar hosted by Ben Readman and Henry Yared.
* Sustainable AI practitioners love Electricity Maps (Ryan Sholin) & their real-time mapping of where electricity comes from (key information as data centers proliferate to support AI infrastructure).
* The applied AI for sustainability ecosystem is vital, with numerous start-ups dealing with scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions mitigation, waste (GreyParrot), supply chain (Muir AI), reporting (CO2 AI), and data analytics. Networks like the Coalition for Sustainable AI and the Green Software Foundation are critical for knowledge sharing & advocacy.
* The more subtle insights about AI systems integration are often the most valuable, like those from Tey Bannerman (McKinsey & Co.) who stresses the importance of design in AI systems & trust in AI tech to work with existing processes.
* Sustainable AI community matters a lot right now. (James Martin fosters this through thought leadership; Nathaniel Burola through his must-visit AI & Environment Hub; Gaël DUEZ through Green IO conferences & podcasts.

Contact Jeremy Tamanini to continue the conversation on this topic, as well as reading these related insights from the practice:

AI Everywhere: Tangible Applications for Sustainability Teams (link here)

The AI Elephant in the Room (link here)

AI x Sustainability in Trump 2.0 (link here)

Remarks to the National Sustainability Society (link here)

AI in Building & Construction: Tangible Applications for Sustainability Teams (link here)

How to Work with Satellite-Based Sustainability Data (link here)