At COP30, the intersection of technology, climate action, and sustainable development is taking centre stage, with a strong focus on both artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable cooling solutions. AI is already helping farmers predict droughts, manage crops, and plan irrigation more efficiently, offering real-time data-driven insights that can improve food security. However, the environmental cost of training large AI models and operating extensive data centres is raising concerns about energy use, water consumption, and broader ecological impacts, particularly as countries like Brazil race to attract new facilities.
Cooling, once a luxury, is now a necessity in many regions experiencing extreme heat, yet it remains one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The Beat the Heat Implementation Drive, launched at COP30 by Brazil’s Presidency, UNEP, and the Cool Coalition, aims to make cooling more accessible and sustainable. The initiative emphasizes a Sustainable Cooling Pathway that combines passive design, nature-based solutions, and clean technologies. When paired with rapid decarbonization, these strategies could reduce emissions by up to 97 percent, while nearly two-thirds of potential cuts come from low-energy, affordable solutions such as cool roofs, urban green spaces, and low-energy systems.
The urgency is underscored by UNEP’s Global Cooling Watch 2025 report, which warns that business-as-usual cooling could generate 7.2 billion tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions by mid-century. With global demand for cooling expected to triple by 2050, there is a pressing need to implement these solutions, particularly in vulnerable communities. More than 185 cities and 72 countries have committed to the Beat the Heat initiative and the Global Cooling Pledge, highlighting a collaborative effort to address financing, policy, and implementation gaps.
AI is also emerging as a tool to support climate resilience beyond agriculture. Countries are exploring its potential through voluntary climate actions under the COP30 Action Agenda. A notable example comes from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, where Alisa Luangrath developed an AI-powered irrigation system that integrates soil moisture, groundwater, and meteorological data to optimize farming practices in climate-stressed regions. The system provides farmers with real-time updates through a mobile app, helping them prepare for flooding, droughts, and heat extremes. The project is open-source, ensuring global accessibility and fostering further innovation.
While these technological solutions offer promise, their environmental footprint cannot be ignored. Data centres required for AI and digital services consume large amounts of energy and water, occupy significant land, and demand extensive mineral resources. Critics warn that inadequate regulation and incentives for locating these facilities can exacerbate local water stress and environmental degradation, as seen in Brazil and other countries. Balancing the benefits of AI and digital technologies with their ecological impact remains a key challenge for policymakers, businesses, and climate advocates alike.
The discussions and initiatives at COP30 underscore the importance of integrating sustainable technologies with climate action, emphasizing that solutions such as AI and sustainable cooling must be both innovative and environmentally responsible to address the growing global heat crisis.
