Globally, climate change is visible in all aspects today, and it is one of the pressing issues, and this needs to be addressed. And data analytics has emerged as a powerful tool in finding sustainable solutions. It works with large amounts of information and helps in understanding the different ways in which climate change is affecting our world. Through data-driven insights, NGO’s, organizations, governments and individuals can make informed decisions that can reduce carbon footprints, improve resource efficiency and promote sustainable practices across industries.
Data can provide a complete view of Earth’s climate system, but this requires details like temperature records, sea level rise, ice core samples and satellite images. By studying this, scientists can observe and interpret how climate has changed over time.
Here are some of the ways data analytics can help take sustainable actions against climate change:
1.Monitoring and Forecasting Environmental Changes
Data Analytics helps in tracking climate patterns, deforestation rates and other real time environmental changes. This gives a better understanding of climate and helps in more accurate predictions.
NASA uses satellite data with analytics to track global temperature changes. This helps scientists to project the future and alert policymakers of the long terms effects of climate change. The use of data analytics in climate study and modelling also helps in finding out the key areas of impact. (ref: https://gpm.nasa.gov/applications/shedding-light-future-earths-climate-nasa-data)
2.Reducing Carbon Emissions through Optimized Energy Use
Data analytics plays a major role in optimizing energy and reducing carbon footprint. Organisations can collect data on their energy consumption through IoT sensors and smart meters. This clarity helps in finding the areas where energy consumption can be reduced without affecting the operational efficiency.
Siemens has reduced the carbon footprint of its own value chain by more than half (54%) since 2014. Siemens has thus exceeded by four percentage points and it intends to achieve climate neutrality in its business operations by 2030. Siemens could achieve this by using IoT and data analytics in its smart buildings to monitor energy consumption and optimize lighting. (Ref: https://press.siemens.com/global/en/pressrelease/siemens-cuts-co2-emissions-54 and https://press.siemens.com/global/en/pressrelease/iot-based-innovations-siemens-transform-buildings-smart-ecosystems)
In the transportation sector, to reduce fuel consumption, companies are using route optimization in logistics and public transport systems. For example, UPS’s On-Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation (ORION) system is a revolutionary AI-powered route optimization system. This system has transformed the logistics industry by using advanced data analytics and optimization techniques to streamline their operations, reduce costs and make delivery routes more efficient. (Ref:https://www.productmonk.io/p/aws-success-secrets-from-startup-to-titan-473d04d0b889a9d0)
3.Supportable Energy Deployment
Data analytics helps in increasing the use of renewable energy sources like wind, solar and hydropower. Energy generation organisations can predict solar and wind energy availability by analysing weather patterns and accordingly adjust the grid supplies.
For example, Google’s AI subsidiary DeepMind has developed a machine learning algorithm to predict the productivity of wind farms up to 36 hours in advance. (Ref: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/googles-deepmind-uses-ai-predict-wind-farm-output/)
Predictive analytics allows for a flexible energy grid that can absorb fluctuating renewable energy without risking blackouts. This is important while transitioning to a low-carbon future with reliable energy supplies.
4.Driving Sustainable Agriculture
With data analytics, agriculture can also become sustainable. Data analytics educates farmers of optimal use of water, reduction in use of fertilizer and protect soil health in farming. For example, Watson Decision Platform for Agriculture is built on IBM PAIRS Geoscope, which quickly processes the complex geospatial and time-based datasets collected by multiple sources. It compresses complex data and creates insights quickly and easily so farmers and food companies can focus on growing crops. (Ref: https://geospatialworld.net/blogs/ibm-expands-ai-based-platform-for-precision-agriculture/#:~:text=Watson%20Decision%20Platform%20for%20Agriculture%20is%20built%20on%20IBM%20PAIRS,can%20focus%20on%20growing%20crops.)
This data-driven knowledge allows farmers to reduce the usage of water and pesticides in agriculture through sustainable agricultural practices while trying to minimize environmental damage.
5.Enabling Transparent Reporting and Accountability
Today, as organisations are increasingly trying to measure and report their environmental impact and are trying to reduce their carbon footprints, the use of data analytics is the best way to track emissions, water usage, and waste production. There are data analytics and AI based tools that help organisations achieve their sustainability goals.
Data analytics is providing organisations the insights required to take sustainable actions against climate change. It provides actionable insights that drive and measure the progress in optimizing energy use and supporting the use of renewable energy.
CRG Solutions has been helping organizations transform the way they work by effectively implementing business software and information solutions. We are an internationally recognized business consulting firm specializing in enterprise resource planning, corporate performance management, business intelligence, financial and costing principles, shared services and employee performance management.
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