As the world strives towards a cleaner and greener future, one glaring obstacle remains: not all communities are equally engaged in the transition. Nowhere is this inequity more apparent than in environmental justice communities, where low-income Black and brown residents bear the brunt of environmental degradation. However, there is hope on the horizon in the form of artificial intelligence.

One of the primary hurdles in engaging communities in environmental action lies in making the issue personally relevant. Concerns about preventing a 1-degree temperature increase decades from now may seem abstract to many. But when framed in terms of the health impacts felt today, the connection becomes clear. If you asked are they worried about their child’s asthma, they would say yes. You could then make the connection between the exhaust from cars, their child’s asthma, and the ozone. AI has the power to bridge this gap by using natural language processing to deliver information in culturally relevant ways, addressing specific concerns and questions.

AI offers a myriad of avenues to address sustainability in environmental justice communities. For instance, AI can conduct detailed analyses to pinpoint interventions tailored to specific neighborhoods. By analyzing data on heat islands, AI can identify where trees or green infrastructure could mitigate extreme temperatures, offering respite from stifling urban heat. Similarly, AI can assess wind patterns to determine the feasibility of renewable energy solutions like mini windmills, or develop decarbonization plans for homes, complete with cost-benefit analyses.

The Environmental Protection Agency deployed a network of AI-powered sensors to track air quality. This data helped identify a local steel mill as a major contributor to air pollution. Armed with this information, residents were able to hold the mill accountable, leading to stricter regulations and cleaner air.

Moreover, AI can revolutionize the presentation of environmental data. Rather than dense, jargon-filled reports, AI-generated visualizations can vividly illustrate the impact of environmental issues on communities. By incorporating storytelling techniques and analyzing datasets, these visualizations can highlight disparities in pollution exposure, access to green spaces, and vulnerability to climate change, resonating with Black communities on a personal level.

In the realm of health impact assessment, AI algorithms can uncover the disproportionate burden of environmental factors on Black communities. By correlating pollution levels, socioeconomic factors, and health outcomes, AI can quantify and communicate the health risks associated with environmental injustice, empowering communities to advocate for change.

Community engagement is another area for AI innovation. AI-powered social media analytics can identify and engage with Black communities online, fostering discussions and raising awareness about environmental issues. Chatbots and virtual assistants can provide resources and facilitate dialogue, amplifying community voices in the environmental discourse.

Policy advocacy stands to benefit from AI as well. By analyzing policy documents and identifying key issues, AI can recommend evidence-based strategies to address environmental inequities. Natural language processing algorithms can pinpoint discriminatory language or policies, informing advocacy campaigns and policy interventions aimed at promoting justice.

Education and training are essential components of empowering communities to enact change. AI-driven educational tools can provide interactive learning experiences tailored to the needs and interests of Black students and communities, promoting environmental literacy and empowerment. These tools can also bring environmental science into the classroom.

Lastly, participatory research facilitated by AI can democratize environmental science. By empowering communities to contribute to data collection and decision-making processes, AI-supported citizen science initiatives can amplify community voices and drive meaningful change.

In harnessing the power of AI, we have an unprecedented opportunity to empower environmental justice communities in the fight for a sustainable future. By leveraging AI’s capabilities to make environmental issues personal, accessible, and actionable, we can pave the way for a more equitable and resilient world. It’s time to embrace AI as a powerful tool for environmental justice and empowerment.

Ed Gaskin is Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets.  Sukia Akiba is an environmentalist and sustainable real estate developer