Climate and Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Harnessing the Whole of Government to Improve Climate Resiliency

In 2023, the world experienced its hottest year on record, leading to a surge in extreme weather events and substantial economic losses of nearly $1.5 trillion over a decade due to climate change-related disasters. Booz Allen Hamilton tasked the Capstone team with spearheading a project to utilize data fusion, predictive analysis, and AI/ML technologies to enhance climate-related decision-making for U.S. government agencies. 

The initial hypothesis posited that integrating diverse data sources through AI/ML could provide a more comprehensive understanding of climate issues, leading to more informed policy decisions and reduced economic losses. The Capstone team conducted baseline analysis to identify gaps and developed a framework for a whole-of-government strategy to mitigate climate change impacts using AI models. The team tested their hypothesis by examining existing climate-related AI models, like the AlertCalifornia and Japan’s Data Integration & Analysis System. However, challenges emerged, including data management complexity, lack of standardization across sources, and gaps in AI/ML model performance. 

To address these challenges, the team proposed harmonizing data sharing protocols among government agencies and leveraging private sector expertise to enhance innovation and address gaps in AI/ML model performance. By implementing these recommendations, the team aims to optimize climate-related decision-making and mitigate economic losses caused by climate-related events.