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As the Earth’s temperature rises, the competition for more intelligent and eco-friendly technology intensifies. During COP30 in Belém, Brazil, participants are examining a contradiction central to climate innovation: how to utilize strong tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) and modern cooling systems without worsening the very issue they seek to address.

Artificial intelligence is already assisting farmers in forecasting dry spells and optimizing crop management, yet the ecological impact of training extensive models and operating large data centers is causing concerns.

In the meantime, cooling—once considered a luxury, but now a necessity for survival in many regions around the globe—has become one of the fastest-growing contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. While sustainable options such as passive cooling design and solar-powered refrigeration are becoming more popular, expanding their use on a larger scale remains a challenge.

At the heart of the discussions atCOP30is the long-awaited Technology Implementation Programme, a plan for delivering life-saving innovations to those who require them the most. However, advancement is sluggish. Intellectual property regulations, business limitations, and financial obstacles still prevent access for developing nations – despite the increasing urgency.

Cooling solutions for a warming world

COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni mentioned following Monday’s opening session that she has participated in talks about technological advancements that can speed up climate solutions—ranging from flood alert systems and methane-tracking satellites to improvements in energy efficiency.

The matter came back into focus on Tuesday with the release of theFight the Heat Implementation Campaign, a collaborative effort by Brazil’s COP30 Presidency, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP, and partners within the Cool Coalition. The program seeks to enhance access to cooling solutions while reducing environmental impact in a world where severe heatwaves are increasingly common.

The demand for cooling is projected to increase threefold by 2050, fueled by higher temperatures, population growth, and the spread of inefficient cooling technologies. If no action is taken, emissions from cooling could almost double, straining power networks and making climate targets difficult to achieve.

The UNEP’s new Global Cooling Watch 2025a report cautions that continuing with current cooling practices could lead to 7.2 billion tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions by the middle of the century.

The Beat the Heat initiative supports a Sustainable Cooling Approach — combining passive design, nature-focused solutions, and clean technologies that can reduce emissions by as much as 97 percent when combined with swift decarbonization.

It’s not solely focused on air conditioners: cool roofs, urban green areas, and energy-efficient systems are key components of the strategy. Almost two-thirds of the possible emission reductions stem from passive and low-energy approaches, most of which are cost-effective and can be implemented on a large scale.

Climate control should be considered as vital infrastructure, along with water and electricity,” stated UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. “However, we can’t rely solely on air conditioning to address the heat emergency.

Over 185 cities, including Rio and Nairobi, have joined the Beat the Heat campaign, along with 72 nations supporting the Global Cooling Pledge. The program aims to address shortcomings in funding, policy, and implementation, particularly for communities most affected by climate change.

Agenda includes artificial intelligence

Although artificial intelligence (AI) is not included in the official discussions at COP30, it is becoming more prominent in the Action Agenda—a framework aimed at encouraging voluntary climate initiatives from civil society, companies, investors, cities, and regions. These entities might not sign agreements, but they play a crucial role in making climate pledges a tangible reality.

The Brazilian Government is identifying effective cases of how AI can enhance climate resilience, a rising pattern among other UN Member Nations. A notable example is from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, where researcher Alisa Luangrath created an AI-driven irrigation system in Savannakhet Province, an area significantly affected by water scarcity and climate challenges.

She was declared the 2025 recipient of theUNFCCCAward for AI in Climate Action

Empowering agricultural producers using intelligent information

Ms. Luangrath stated that the system combines soil moisture sensors, groundwater tracking devices, and weather data with artificial intelligence analysis. The technology analyzes this data to predict land conditions, water supply, and potential dangers such as flooding or extreme heat. Farmers get instant updates through a mobile application, enabling them to organize their planting and irrigation schedules more effectively.

She shared with UN News that she hopes her involvement in COP30 will aid in creating collaborations to introduce the innovation to other countries and communities at risk from climate-related shocks. All AI models and data tools created through her project will be released under open-source licenses, allowing free access for reuse and enhancement.

The ecological impact of data

However, as the application of AI grows, so too does worry about its impact on the environment.

Luã Cruz, the Telecommunications and Digital Rights Coordinator at Brazil’s Consumer Defense Institute (Idec), cautioned that common digital activities—such as using a mobile phone or engaging online—depend on large data centers.

He stated, ‘These facilities use large quantities of energy and water for cooling, take up wide areas of land, and need considerable mineral mining for their electronic parts.’

Mr. Cruz mentioned that numerous data centers “overlook ecological limits, choosing sites with little environmental oversight and attractive tax incentives.”

Strain on water resources

Brazil, similar to many other nations, is striving to draw in these facilities – a step that Mr. Cruz thinks might intensify water scarcity. He referenced the Netherlands’ ban on new data centers, as well as the shutdown of sites in Chile and Uruguay that contributed to regional droughts.

Idec is currently engaged in two legal cases within Brazil. One relates to a planned TikTok data center in Caucaia, Ceará, close to Indigenous land. The other concerns a proposed facility in Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul—a city that was over 80 percent flooded following last year’s severe floods.

Copyright 2025 United Nations News Service. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media ().

Tagged: Climate, International Organizations and Africa, Africa, Environment, External Relations

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