Counting Climate 2035 The Future of Climate Data Governance in Asia
This foresight brief presents two hypothetical future scenarios for climate data pipelines and governance. These scenarios were developed through a foresight workshop that brought together leading thinkers & practitioners from civil society, academia, and industry.
The intersection of AI and Climate Action in Asia is uncertain and complex. New approaches are needed to anticipate possible opportunities and challenges and better prepare for change. Foresight methods provide a structured way to anticipate future trends, engage stakeholders, and identify anticipatory strategies. The expert network, along with additional participants from India, met for a scenario-building workshop in New Delhi in August 2023.
This report is part of AI+Climate Futures, commissioned by The Rockefeller Foundation. Here is a brief overview:
Future of Climate Data Pipelines and Governance in Asia
- How might climate data pipelines and governance evolve over the next ten years?
- What are the likely implications for the intersection of AI and climate action in Asia?
In this report, we present two hypothetical scenarios.
The first scenario, Fractured Futures, presents a world in which new private data clubs are formed and AI applications for climate action further narrow commercial interests.
In the second scenario, Hopeful Tomorrows, new centralised institutions for curating and sharing climate data are created; crafted on the principles of social purpose, reciprocity, and care, it supports the development of socially beneficial climate AI.
The final section of this brief summarises the shared concerns and levers of change that emerge from these scenarios and discussions at the foresight workshop.
The scenarios are not predictions but provocations to consider the implications of current trajectories and imagine alternative possibilities. This brief can serve as a tool for exploring new pathways toward promoting responsible innovation and the adoption of AI technologies for climate action.