AI in global environmental governance: discourses on the emerging technology

Abstract

Presenter: Yi hyun Kang Artificial intelligence (AI) is discussed as a hot topic across policy sectors, including global environmental politics. A notable instance was observed at the 28th United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference in 2023, where national governments decided to explore AI's role in climate solutions and its associated challenges through the #AI4ClimateAction Initiative. In March 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to “seize the opportunities” of using AI systems for sustainable development. While AI is emerging as a public policy topic in environmental governance, there is a significant knowledge gap among scholars as well as the public about the background frames used by policy actors at the international level. Particularly, given that the potential impacts of AI on the environment are expected to be significant in both positive and negative ways, it is necessary to understand which discourses are guiding the direction of AI discussions within environmental politics. What are the main narratives presented when AI is discussed in association with environmental issues? Which actors form discourse coalitions which are for or against the use of AI, and why? What are the implications of the increasing adoption of AI to global environmental governance? This study investigates how AI is perceived by main actors in global environmental governance, particularly in the fields of climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development. The data is collected through keyword searches on the websites and social media accounts of the relevant international organizations and then analysed through mixed methods: thematic analysis and discourse network analysis. In this way, this study attempts to situate the current dominant discourses on AI in the historical context of environmental politics, deepen our understanding of the background of the ongoing policymaking process, and ultimately contribute to a knowledge base about the early stage of AI discussions in environmental politics.