Artificial intelligence and clean energy are key to accelerating climate-positive development

Advances in artificial intelligence, the transition to cleaner energy sources and economic growth in developing countries must be harnessed to accelerate “climate-positive” sustainable development, said Cop28 president Dr Sultan Al Jaber.

Dr. Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, spoke on Tuesday at the Energy Week in Baku, Azerbaijan, which will host the Cop29 climate summit in November this year.

“Artificial intelligence increases energy demand, but at the same time increases efficiency by reducing emissions. In fact, the development of artificial intelligence is one of the three megatrends that will shape our future, alongside the accelerating energy transition and the development of emerging markets and the Global South,” said Dr. Al Jaber.

“The closer AI and energy work together, the more solutions we can unlock to drive low-carbon growth everywhere.”

The UAE Cop28 Presidency has forged broad partnerships with the next two hosts of the climate conference, Azerbaijan and Brazil, to help maintain the key climate target of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The aim of the “Police Presidency Troika” is to strengthen cooperation and ensure continuity between the hosts of the annual climate talks under the so-called “1.5°C mission”.

The Cop28 agreement was formally named the Global Review, which called on countries to “pivot” fossil fuels in what was arguably the most important step forward on global climate action since the 2015 Paris Agreement.

It aims to stay within the global temperature limit of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels agreed in Paris and avoid the worst effects of climate change.

Scientists believe that if global temperatures rise more, the lives and health of billions of people could be at risk.

Dr Al Jaber said on Tuesday that the Cop28 Presidency and the UAE will work very closely with the Cop Presidency in Azerbaijan and called on all countries to ensure that “Cop29 will be a huge success that builds on the results of the Dubai conference.”

The UAE and Azerbaijan have established close relations, especially in the renewable energy sector.

Abu Dhabi-based Masdar, which has 10 gigawatts of renewable energy projects in Azerbaijan, has built the 230-megawatt Garadagh Solar Park in the Central Asian country, the “largest” operational solar plant in the region.

Last year, Masdar opened an office in Baku and pledged to strengthen its support for the country’s renewable energy program. Azerbaijan aims to generate 30% of its total power from clean energy sources by 2030.

Henrietta Moon, founder of Finnish start-up Carbo Culture, says companies working on carbon dioxide removal technologies are valuable. Chris Whiteoak / National

Dr Al Jaber also urged the oil and gas industry to reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions.

Last year, 50 oil and gas companies, representing more than 40 percent of global oil production, signed the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter, which calls for achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Producers also aim to achieve “near-zero” methane emissions from mining and zero routine flaring by 2030.

“For those who have not yet registered, I encourage you to do so,” Dr. Al Jaber said.

The Cop28 president emphasized that the development of artificial intelligence driven by the expansion of data centers will require the use of renewable energy along with natural gas.

According to Tudor Pickering Holt, the surge in energy consumption in AI data centers could significantly increase demand for natural gas in the second half of the decade.

An additional 8.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day may be needed to meet growing demand, the investment bank said in an April report.

Climate finance

Dr Al Jaber said Cop29 will “focus like no other policeman” on the issue of climate finance, which is a key enabler of consensus in the UAE.

A recent report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found that developed countries have transferred and mobilized more than $100 billion in climate finance to developing countries in 2022, after failing to do so in previous years.

Dr Al Jaber said he was “encouraged” by the news, but added that more funding would be needed to ensure accessibility and affordability.

Alterra, the private investment vehicle launched at Cop28, aims to raise $250 billion globally over the next six years to create a fairer climate finance system. It was initiated thanks to the United Arab Emirates’ commitment of USD 30 billion.

“We face unprecedented challenges. But within these challenges lies an unparalleled opportunity to redefine our future – on a path to sustainability and resilience,” said Dr Al Jaber.

In a report on Tuesday, the International Energy Agency said countries’ climate plans were not yet aligned with the goal of tripling global renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade, as agreed at Cop28.

The Paris-based agency said that of the 194 previously submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), only 14 included explicit targets for total renewable energy capacity for 2030.

The renewable capacity ambition for 2030 across all NDCs is just over 1,300 gigawatts, representing about 12 percent of the global commitment to have installed renewable capacity of at least 11,000 gigawatts, the IEA said.

Updated: June 4, 2024, 12:01