How data analytics can support our fight against climate change

On the 26th of February 2021, an iceberg, 1,270 square kilometres in area, broke off from an ice shelf in Antarctica. 

The iceberg was larger than New York City.

In isolation, this news might not be very concerning for many people. Unfortunately, this is part of a chain of events caused by climate change.

Climate change has become one of the most debated topics around the world. Scientists keep insisting on taking necessary measures to combat climate change but politicians and ordinary citizens still deny climate change and don’t take heed of these warnings.

Personal opinion aside, climate change is real, and can become worse if we do not take the necessary actions to address it.

Scientists have warned that our actions will increase the global temperature by 2.5℃ to 4℃ by the end of the century, triggering an irreversible chain of events that could make life almost impossible for every living organism on the face of the earth.

That’s why we need to be using all the tools in our arsenal to ensure a safe living environment for future generations.

Data analytics is one tool that can become our ally in our fight against global warming and climate change.

Data analytics can gauge the damage of human behaviour 

Analysing the damage caused by our mistakes of the past is an important part of the recovery process. 

As humans, we’ve made plenty of mistakes. Chief among them are destroying our forests, ruining our atmosphere with fossil fuel emissions, and littering the environment with plastic waste.

Gauging the effects of our mistakes, however, is not an easy task. 

Scientists use sensors, satellite images and other tools to collect data on these effects, which, in turn, can be used to determine the extent of the damage and future climatic conditions.

Forest conservationists, for example, have been using the data collected from these endpoints to analyse the extent of damage to our forests, which are essentially the lungs of our planet as they regulate carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Environmental agencies working in Antarctica were also able to predict the effects of global warming on glaciers in the pole, including the event outlined earlier in the post by using data analytics. 

Identifying these effects of climate change can help us educate politicians and ordinary citizens and mobilise them to participate in the fight against climate change. Moreover, the insights from these analytics can help us make plans to protect our planet more effectively.

Analytics can help us adopt best practices to combat climate change

Although some of the effects of our mistakes are irreversible, there is still time to make informed decisions that can help us progress in our battle against global warming.

Adopting cleaner and natural sources of energy to meet our needs is one proven way to reduce emissions; a major contributor to global warming.

Natural sources of energy like wind and solar power require specific setups to provide us with energy. With data analytics, we can identify the most suitable locations to build solar farms and wind turbines, which can provide clean energy in line with our demand.

Data analytics is also helping organisations around the world measure their carbon footprint. This data can help organisations adopt best practices to reduce their impact on the environment. 

Forest conservation efforts also rely on these insights to identify lands that could be reforested.

Data analytics is our ally in our fight against climate change

Climate change is one of the biggest existential threats to mankind right now. 

Centuries of irresponsible behaviour and decisions have accelerated global warming, which can make life for future generations extremely challenging, if not impossible.
Fortunately, there’s still time to right our wrongs. Data analytics can be an invaluable resource in this process.