How quantum, blockchain and artificial intelligence can tame climate change

Future survival of humans on Earth is bleak, med warning from climatologists that the world’s governments have only nine years to save future generations from the fatal ravages of climate change.

A number of countries show great promise in averting the crisis, but many others remain obsessed with the search for fossil fuels, with fossil fuel lobbyists very well represented at the ongoing COP27 summit in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

Trillions of dollars are needed to finance climate adaptation in developing countries that have suffered the worst climate ravages, but also unfulfilled promises in climate finance. What can technology do to help the world escape the dangers it created? From carbon capture innovations, sustainable data center design, growing seaweed for cows, promoting green energy adoption and regulating the refrigeration industry, technology is being used to control human destruction of nature. But challenges remain in getting all countries involved.

Quartz spoke with Saad Toma, general manager of IBM Middle East and Africa about the various innovations the world can rely on to control emissions, and what that means for Africa. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

IBM is the official technology partner of COP27. What role does technology play as the world looks for a solution to climate change, and what have been the obstacles?

Many technology companies know the time has come to act, but progress is hindered by a lack of expertise or they don’t know where to start. Their challenge is to turn environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into a true business driver while delivering return on investment (ROI.) Research conducted by IBM’s Institute for Business Valuehave shown that only 23% of global CEOs implement sustainability strategies across their organizations.

At COP27, organizational leaders in and outside the technology sector must recognize sustainability as a core element of their business strategy. Organizations need to examine how they can best establish an ESG database to operationalize sustainability goals and increase transparency. Data-driven intelligence packages are critical to reducing the cost, time and burden of ESG reporting, allowing organizations to focus on delivering ESG strategic outcomes.

Data is a critical part of the solution. It’s important to create a clear baseline to underpin each goal to determine your current impact, track progress, and implement adjustments. This requires a simple registration system to integrate and manage data that is tailored to your goals. Collect, correlate, visualize and analyze relevant data so that you can deliver transparent, verifiable information of a financial nature and more easily identify where improvements are most needed.

Technology is a decisive factor in achieving ESG goals both internally and externally. We operationalize end-to-end sustainability with data-driven innovation through a comprehensive portfolio of industry-leading technology capabilities. For example, one of our five business imperatives to help companies accelerate their sustainability journey is to focus on responsible computing and green IT. Globally, computers, data centers and networks use 10% of the world’s electricity. Hybrid cloud solutions such as Turbonomic and IBM Cloud can help optimize data centers, IT operations and platforms to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

You have previously published research on quantum computing as a critical solution to combating climate hazards. How prepared is Africa for this technology?

We believe that technology is a critical enabler in helping organizations achieve ESG goals both internally and externally. It is important to be decisive and use all options to reduce human-made contributions to climate change, and new technologies are fundamental to this goal. That’s why IBM researchers are turning to quantum computing and other new technologies to discover new solutions for a more sustainable planet. At the recent IBM Quantum Summit 2022, we unveiled the ‘IBM Osprey’ – IBM’s new 433-quantum-bit (qubit) processor, which will bring us one step closer to the point where quantum computers will be used to tackle previously intractable problems.

While green technologies such as hybrid cloud are already accelerating the fight against climate change, quantum computing has the potential to have a major impact in the future.

Through IBM Research Africa, we have R&D laboratories at the forefront of computing technology in two of the leading cities on the continent – ​​Nairobi, Kenya and Johannesburg, South Africa. IBM Research Africa was the first industrial research facility on the continent, and it actively engages with Africa’s rich and diverse innovation ecosystem to initiate new business opportunities and ensure the full commercial viability of its solutions and services.

Blockchain and AI are playing a big role in climate adaptation in some countries. What can be done to take these technologies to every African nation?

Climate change affects everyone from all four corners of the world, including here in Africa. The right partnerships are key to reducing the effects of climate change. That’s why we work closely with our clients and partners in Africa to help solve their complex challenges by bringing together the right consulting expertise, innovative technologies and ecosystem partners to make the biggest impact on global sustainability.

Environmental justice programs such as IBM Sustainability Accelerator and Call for code— our social impact programs that enable organizations and communities to tackle environmental issues—are critical to bringing transformative technology solutions into communities in need, and they are examples of how we are getting green emerging technologies to be gradually adopted across the continent, while helping with climate adaptation.

What do you think about the role of semiconductors in the development of green technologies?

Semiconductors are the core of the green technological development we are now experiencing. They play critical roles in everything from computing to appliances, to communication devices, transport systems and critical infrastructure. As the demand for green IT solutions in areas such as hybrid cloud, AI and the Internet of Things continues to increase, organizations are demanding energy efficiency along with increased chip performance.

Last year we announced the world’s first chip with 2 nanometers technology, estimated to achieve 75% lower energy consumption than today’s most advanced 7 nm node chips. The potential benefits of the chip include quadrupling mobile phone battery life, reducing the carbon footprint of data centres, drastically speeding up the functions of a laptop computer and contributing to faster object detection. All of these greatly increase the sustainability benefits of green technologies.

How should companies approach climate technology sustainability policy?

The past two years have been a catalyst for changing our views not only on how we live, work and play, but also on sustainability. According to our latest consumer study, 62% of consumers say they are willing to change their buying habits to reduce their environmental impact, up from 57% two years ago. They demand more transparency and sustainability throughout the supply chain for the products they buy and consume.

Therefore, it is crucial for organizations not only to talk about sustainability, but to put sustainability at the heart of their business and anchor it in their policies. For example, we have a track record of setting precedents with environmental commitments for over 50 years. To stay honest and responsible, we launched IBM Impactour new ESG framework with our goals and commitments to create a more sustainable, fair and secure future.

We have a set of 21 environmental commitments, including achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to extend our decade-long commitment to environmental responsibility. We will achieve this goal by focusing on short-term goals such as procuring 75% of the electricity IBM consumes worldwide from renewable sources in just the next three years. Creating sustainable foundations and policies now will position companies for a more efficient, resilient and inclusive world for the betterment of future generations.