The Digital Divide in Climate Tech: Unequal Access to AI-Driven Solutions

By Eshita

As we navigate the complex landscape of climate change in 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful ally in our fight against environmental degradation. From smart energy systems to predictive analytics for disaster response, AI is reshaping how we approach climate adaptation and mitigation. However, as these technological advancements accelerate, a critical question looms: who truly benefits from these AI-driven climate solutions?

The Promise of AI in Climate Action

The potential of AI in combating climate change is both vast and transformative. According to a 2023 report by the World Economic Forum, AI is already making significant contributions to climate efforts. In the Arctic, AI systems can measure changes in icebergs 10,000 times faster than humans, providing crucial data on the release of meltwater into oceans. In agriculture, AI-powered tools are optimizing crop yields while reducing environmental impact, a critical advancement as we face increasing food security challenges due to climate change.

The impact of these technologies could be substantial. The World Bank estimates that digital technologies, including AI, could cut emissions by up to 20% by 2050 in the three highest-emitting sectors: energy, materials, and mobility. This potential for significant impact underscores the importance of AI in our climate strategies.

The Digital Divide: A Barrier to Equitable Climate Action

Despite the promise of AI in climate action, a significant portion of the global population remains disconnected from these advancements due to the digital divide. As per the International Telecommunication Union, in early 2025, nearly three billion people remain offline, many in low- and middle-income countries that are most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

The consequences of this divide are severe and multifaceted. When climate-fueled disasters strike, those on the wrong side of the digital divide find themselves cut off from crucial warnings and disaster-related information. This information blackout extends beyond immediate crises, limiting access to vital recovery resources. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has officially listed "access to technology" as one of the key societal factors affecting the severity of a disaster in a given community.

Impact on Vulnerable Communities

The impact on Black communities is particularly stark. Research from the Brookings Institution reveals that low-income Black communities often bear the brunt of climate change impacts, such as flooding, heat waves, and air pollution. Limited access to AI-driven climate solutions further compounds their vulnerability. Moreover, the increased energy demand from AI technologies could lead to a greater reliance on fossil fuels, exacerbating environmental impacts and straining budgets in vulnerable communities.

Economic disparities are exacerbated, with the wealth gap between Black and white households. Generative AI has the potential to widen the racial economic gap in the United States by $43 billion each year, as per a McKinsey study.

Monica Sanders, founder of The Undivide Project, emphasizes the intersection of the digital divide and climate injustice. Her work highlights how vulnerable households face compounded risks beyond climate change-induced disasters, with lack of digital access exacerbating their challenges in adaptation and resilience. In some rural areas of South Carolina, people are paying more for utilities than mortgages due to increased energy demand driven by data centers and AI technologies, further straining already tight budgets.

Global Implications of the Digital Divide

The implications of this divide extend beyond individual communities. As AI systems continue to shape climate adaptation policies, the lack of diverse data inputs and perspectives threatens to create solutions that lack global scope. A 2024 study by United Nations University found that AI models trained primarily on data from the Global North often fail to accurately predict climate impacts in the Global South, potentially leading to misguided adaptation strategies in the regions most vulnerable to climate change.

Bridging the Gap: Initiatives and Solutions

Despite these challenges, there are promising initiatives working to bridge the digital divide in climate tech. Climawise, an AI-powered adaptation tool developed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), is creating a global database of adaptation solutions linked to specific climate risks. It uses natural language processing to identify relevant measures for specific locations, helping policymakers adapt strategies to local needs.

The AI for Equity Challenge, launched in 2023 by the United Nations Development Programme, supports organizations in developing AI solutions to advance UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action, gender equality, and health. The initiative has already funded projects in 15 countries, focusing on empowering local communities to create and implement AI-driven climate solutions.

The Path Forward

As we navigate this critical juncture, it's imperative to recognize that the intersection of AI, climate change, and technology offers unprecedented opportunities to address environmental challenges. However, without concerted efforts to bridge the digital divide, we risk exacerbating existing inequalities, particularly for Black communities and those in the Global South.

The path forward requires a fundamental shift in how we develop and deploy AI-driven climate solutions. It demands a commitment to inclusive AI development, with underrepresented regions' experiences and needs at the forefront. It calls for strategic partnerships between governments, tech companies, NGOs, and communities to facilitate broader access to technology, data, and AI expertise for climate solutions in underserved areas.

Only by addressing these challenges head-on can we unlock the full potential of AI to create a more resilient, sustainable, and just world for all in the face of climate change. As we continue to innovate and deploy AI-driven climate solutions, we must ensure that the benefits of these advancements reach all communities, bridging the digital divide and creating a truly inclusive approach to combating climate change.

Eshita is a lawyer and public policy professional pursuing her MALD '25, who explores the intersection of tech policy, business, governance, and climate resilience.