During the keynote session at SustainableFinance.Live 2023, Roxana Slavcheva, the Global Lead for the Built Environment at the World Resources Institute (WRI), addressed the critical intersection of artificial intelligence and urban sustainability in her presentation titled “The Role of AI in Decarbonising the Built Environment: An Urban Policy Perspective.”
Slavcheva emphasized the vital role cities play in both economic growth and environmental sustainability. With half of the global population residing in urban areas, cities contribute over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, and a staggering 90% of urban residents live in locations plagued by unsafe air pollution levels. Despite familiar statistics, she advocated for viewing cities as dynamic entities capable of innovation, akin to startups that can swiftly adapt, experiment, and improve.
Highlighting the building sector’s substantial contribution to energy consumption and carbon emissions, Slavcheva posed the challenge of how to move beyond conventional rhetoric to achieve effective decarbonization of buildings. She noted that successful decarbonization brings multiple benefits, including reduced costs, job creation, and enhanced human well-being. WRI responds to this challenge by utilizing the Donut Economics framework, which interlinks the pillars of people, nature, and climate. This approach stresses that the built environment is interconnected within an urban ecosystem and advocates for regenerative and distributive policies.
WRI suggests that cities should be viewed as facilitators of natural systems rather than merely recipients of greenery and parks. Slavcheva called for a transformative systems change, indicating that traditional linear approaches are inadequate. To effectively decarbonize energy systems, she identified four essential components: Decarbonization, Decentralisation, Digitalisation, and Democratisation.
WRI’s strategy further dissects the ecosystem into two main categories: human elements and enablers. The human aspects focus on three core pillars: food, energy, and cities. In contrast, enabling factors, which should be viewed as catalysts for change, include finance, governance, and economic frameworks. A significant enabler highlighted by WRI is technology, particularly artificial intelligence.
WRI employs advanced analytical methods through its data lab, utilizing AI to tackle various issues. For instance, the organization is examining the urban heat island effect through AI to better understand temperature dynamics in cities worldwide. An initiative called Global Forest Watch assesses urban greenery and its effects on local climates.
However, data alone is insufficient. WRI underscores the necessity of translating data into actionable policy frameworks to effectively address urban challenges like the urban heat island effect. For instance, they advocate comprehensive interventions that not only enhance tree cover but also promote the design of livable neighborhoods that mitigate heat impacts while fostering enjoyable public spaces.
Developing livable communities, transforming business models, lowering urban energy consumption, and addressing water resilience are additional pivotal areas of focus for the WRI.
Slavcheva acknowledged the complexity of decarbonizing the built environment, which demands coordinated planning, stakeholder engagement, and a nuanced understanding of interdependencies. She emphasized that there is no universal solution; rather, a multifaceted approach is required.
To facilitate this, WRI collaborates with governmental bodies to support their contributions to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They aim to enhance cities’ attractiveness in terms of investment, livability, and competitive edge.
Moreover, WRI engages with diverse stakeholders, including affordable housing developers, data entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, and climate-conscious investors, to address climate risks comprehensively across the life cycle of infrastructure.
In response to a question regarding cost-effectiveness, Slavcheva highlighted the notion that the true cost lies not in innovative investments, but rather in the expensive status quo of a heavily polluting system. She argued that the financial implications of inaction, especially concerning climate change adaptation and mitigation, far outweigh the costs associated with transitioning to a sustainable system.
Ultimately, Slavcheva called for urgency in collective action, underscoring that the current trajectory of emissions necessitates prompt commitments to decarbonize not only the energy sector but the broader economy as well. By uniting diverse actors, we can make a compelling case for swift and impactful transformation.