AI already helps farmers predict droughts and manage crops more efficiently, but the environmental cost of training large models and managing vast data centers is raising alarms.
Meanwhile, cooling – once considered a luxury, now a survival need in many parts of the world – remains one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. From passive cooling architecture to solar-powered refrigeration, sustainable alternatives are gaining ground, but scaling them is another story.
At the center of negotiations COP30 is the long-delayed Technology Implementation Program, a model for putting life-saving innovations in the hands of those who need them most. But progress is slow. Intellectual property rules, trade restrictions and financing barriers continue to block access for developing countries – even as the urgency increases.
Sustainable cooling for a warmer planet
COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni said after the opening session on Monday that she had participated in discussions on technological innovations that could accelerate climate solutions – from flood warning systems and methane monitoring satellites to advances in energy efficiency.
The issue came back to the forefront on Tuesday with the launch of Beat the Heat Implementation Campaigna joint initiative of the Brazilian presidency of COP30 and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and partners of the Cool Coalition. The initiative aims to make cooling more accessible – and less polluting – in a world where deadly heatwaves are becoming the norm.
Demand for cooling is expected to triple by 2050, driven by rising temperatures, population growth and expanded access to inefficient cooling systems. Without intervention, cooling emissions could nearly double, overwhelming power grids and putting climate goals out of reach.
The new UNEP Global Cooling Monitoring 2025 A report warns that business as usual could generate 7.2 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions by mid-century.
The Beat the Heat engine promotes Sustainable cooling pathway – a blend of passive design, nature-based solutions and clean technologies that can reduce emissions by up to 97% when combined with rapid decarbonization.
It’s not just about air conditioners: cool roofs, urban green spaces and low-energy systems are at the heart of the plan. Nearly two-thirds of potential emissions reductions come from passive and low-energy solutions, many of which are affordable and scalable.
“Cooling must be treated as essential infrastructure, just like water and energy,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. “But we can’t air-condition our way out of the heat crisis.”
More than 185 cities – from Rio to Nairobi – have signed up to beat the heat, alongside 72 countries supporting the Global Cooling Pledge. The initiative is designed to close gaps in financing, policy and implementation, particularly for vulnerable communities on the front lines of climate change.
Artificial intelligence on the agenda
Although artificial intelligence (AI) is not part of the formal COP30 negotiations, it is gaining ground in the Agenda for Action – a platform designed to mobilize voluntary climate action from civil society, businesses, investors, cities and states. These actors may not sign treaties, but they are essential to making climate commitments a reality.
The Brazilian government is identifying successful examples of how AI can support climate resilience, a growing trend among other UN member states. One notable example comes from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, where researcher Alisa Luangrath developed an AI-powered irrigation system in Savannakhet province, a region hit hard by water shortages and climate stress.
She was named the 2025 winner of the UNFCCC “AI for Climate Action” Prize.
Empowering farmers with smart data
Ms. Luangrath explained that the system integrates soil moisture sensors, groundwater monitors and weather data with AI-based analytics. The technology processes this information to predict land conditions, water availability and the risk of flooding or extreme heat. Farmers receive real-time updates via a mobile app, helping them plan planting and irrigation cycles more effectively.
She said UN News that it hopes that its participation in COP30 will help forge partnerships to bring innovation to other countries and communities vulnerable to climate shocks. All AI models and data tools developed through its project will be made available under open source licenses, ensuring free access for reuse and improvement.
Thanks to RuralInvest, the field technician understands what the farmer’s vision is, learns how and what data should be collected and enters it into the software, which automatically systematizes the information and brings to life clear and visually effective business plans.
The environmental cost of data
But as the use of AI grows, so do concerns about its environmental footprint.
Luã Cruz, coordinator of telecommunications and digital rights at the Brazilian Consumer Defense Institute (Idec), warned that even everyday digital activities – from mobile phone use to online interactions – depend on massive data centers.
“These facilities consume large amounts of energy and water for cooling, occupy large areas of land and require significant mining for their electronic components,” he explained.
Mr. Cruz added that many data centers “ignore planetary boundaries, seeking locations with minimal environmental regulations and generous tax exemptions.”
Pressure on water resources
Brazil, like several other countries, is struggling to attract such facilities — a move that Mr. Cruz says could worsen water stress. He pointed to the Netherlands’ moratorium on new data centers and the removal of facilities in Chile and Uruguay that have exacerbated local droughts.
Idec is currently involved in two legal cases in Brazil. One concerns a TikTok data center project in Caucaia, Ceará, near indigenous territory. The other involves a proposed facility in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul – a city that was more than 80 percent submerged after last year’s devastating floods.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
