A large majority of climate and artificial intelligence (AI) leaders across the private and public sectors believe AI plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change, though significant hurdles related to the technology will need to be cleared before widespread application of sustainability-focused AI, according to a report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the AI for the Planet Alliance.

The report found 87% of more than 1,000 surveyed decision-makers agree AI is valuable for mitigation and resiliency related to climate change, but just 40% of those leaders can envision using AI in their own organizations' sustainability initiatives.

BCG noted that AI is easily applicable in complex scenarios like climate or carbon emissions analysis because of its ability to collect and analyze huge amounts of data on emissions and environmental impacts. This "means [AI] can help stakeholders take a more informed and data-driven approach to combating carbon emissions and addressing climate risks," Hamid Maher, BCG managing director and coauthor of the report, said.

However, developing deeply impactful AI sustainability strategies will necessitate support in research, finance, and education. "Existing AI-related climate change solutions today are more typically scattered, difficult to access, and lacking the resources to scale," the report noted.

According to the survey, the most pressing obstacle to using AI in climate change efforts is insufficient AI experience, cited by 78% of respondents.

Another major hurdle noted by 77% of respondents is the lack of available AI solutions targeted at climate, along with a lack of confidence in AI data and analysis noted by 67% of survey respondents.

"These shortcomings need to change," Maher added.

In the eyes of 67% of global private sector respondents, governments should be taking the reins to support the use of AI in climate change mitigation and resilience. In contrast, 39% of public sector respondents agree governments need to do more to support private sector AI for climate use cases.

While the report notes AI cannot be the end-all be-all solution to the climate crisis, the tech does show potential "to help leaders and citizens make informed judgments about how to tackle climate challenges" through mitigation, adaptation and resilience, and fundamentals.

One of today's "most critical uses of AI" is in measuring, reducing, and removing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide emissions at macro and micro levels. According to BCG, using AI for this purpose can reduce 5% to 10% of an organization's carbon footprint.

In terms of adaptation, AI can be used to predict extreme weather patterns and climate events like sea level rise or upgrade warning systems for hurricanes and widespread drought.

AI also shows promise in advancing the basics of addressing climate change — research and education on its impacts that will help various stakeholders understand the risks and consequences of business-as-usual.

And in terms of fundamentals, "AI can also be used to bolster efforts across climate research and modeling; climate finance; and education, nudging, and behavior change, such as by powering personalized tools to estimate an individual’s carbon footprint or making recommendations for environmentally friendly purchases," the report explained.