"Humanity's greatest challenge today involves decarbonizing the global economy by 2050. This demands an unprecedented decade of accelerated energy innovation," stated Ernest J. Moniz, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems Emeritus, founding director of the MIT Energy Initiative, and former U.S. secretary of energy, as he launched the MIT Forefront virtual event on April 21. "However, we equally need practical visionaries across every economic sector to develop revolutionary business models that maintain profitability while achieving zero-carbon emissions."
The event, titled "Revolutionizing Climate and Sustainability Through AI-Enhanced Technology, Progressive Policy, and Innovative Business Models," represented the third installment of the MIT Forefront series. This distinguished series brings together leading thinkers from science, industry, and policy to present groundbreaking solutions to pressing global challenges. Moniz moderated the discussion, which attracted over 12,000 online participants.
MIT and similar academic institutions play a crucial role in equipping the world's brightest minds to tackle monumental climate challenges and develop the cutting-edge technologies necessary for advancing sustainability efforts. This point was powerfully illustrated during the main session through a presentation about Via Separations, an innovative company supported by MIT's The Engine. Co-founded by Shreya Dave '09, SM '12, PhD '16, Via Separations leverages AI-optimized filtration technology to minimize waste and reduce costs across multiple industries. "By next year, we will be eliminating substantial carbon dioxide emissions from our customers' facilities," Dave announced.
Via Separations exemplifies numerous innovative companies emerging from MIT's energy and climate initiatives. As the panel discussion progressed, participants emphasized how such ventures are essential to achieving net-zero emissions and implementing successful environmental sustainability strategies. Moniz highlighted that the company embodies "the spirit of science and technology in action for humanity's benefit" and demonstrates how universities, businesses, technology, and policy must collaborate to make optimal environmental choices.
How Businesses Confront Climate Change Using AI-Driven Solutions
The panelists noted that innovation in sustainable practices often encounters significant challenges when implemented within business models, particularly regarding policy frameworks. However, they shared key strategies their organizations have employed using current technologies, including AI applications, and the obstacles they face in achieving sustainability objectives. Despite the diverse products and services represented, a common theme emerged: the necessity of new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence solutions, to meet sustainability goals.
While 2050 represents the long-term net-zero emissions target established by the Paris Agreement, the businesses represented by panelists are focusing on nearer-term objectives. "IBM has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030—without relying on carbon offsets," stated Arvind Krishna, chairman and chief executive officer of IBM. "We believe carbon taxes could serve as effective policy instruments. However, policy alone proves insufficient. We require advanced technological tools, particularly AI-driven systems, to reach our ambitious goals."
Jeff Wilke SM '93, who retired as Amazon's chief executive officer of Worldwide Consumer in February 2021, outlined numerous initiatives the e-commerce giant is implementing to reduce emissions. Transportation represents one of their most significant challenges to achieving zero emissions, prompting substantial investment in Class 8 electric trucks. "Another objective involves eliminating air shipments by positioning inventory closer to urban centers—a strategy we've been steadily implementing over recent years," he explained.
Jim Fitterling, chair and chief executive officer of Dow, revealed that Dow has decreased its carbon emissions by 15 percent over the past decade and is positioned to achieve further reductions in the coming years. Future objectives include working toward electrifying ethylene production. "If we successfully electrify this process, it will enable substantial progress in carbon-dioxide reduction," he stated. "However, we require more reliable and stable power infrastructure to accomplish this transition."
AI-Enhanced Collaboration: Essential for Advancing Climate Solutions
Maria T. Zuber, MIT's vice president for research, recently appointed by U.S. President Joe Biden as co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, emphasized that MIT innovators and industry leaders must collaborate to implement effective climate solutions.
"Innovation functions as a team sport," said Zuber, who is also the E. A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics. "Even if MIT researchers achieve a groundbreaking discovery, deploying it requires policy-level cooperation and often industry support. Policymakers must address problems and seize opportunities through approaches that gain public acceptance. It's not merely about solving technical challenges—human behavior factors significantly into the equation."
However, Zuber noted that businesses can significantly accelerate innovation. "When a company recognizes a new technology's potential, they can become its most effective advocates with policymakers," she observed.
Balancing Sustainability and Shareholder Value in the AI Era
During the Q&A session, an audience member highlighted that environmentalists often distrust companies' sustainability policies when their primary focus remains on shareholders and profitability.
"Companies must demonstrate they're part of the solution," Fitterling responded. "Investors typically fear high upfront costs, making approaches like completely electrifying a plant overnight impractical. Organizations need to develop achievable transition plans and then incentivize these plans through policy. Carbon taxes represent one approach, but they miss crucial market leverage opportunities."
Krishna also challenged the notion that companies must choose between sustainability and profitability. "This represents a false dichotomy," he argued. "If companies exclusively pursued short-term profits, they wouldn't achieve long-term viability."
"I've heard from some environmental groups that 'anything companies do constitutes greenwashing,' suggesting they'll abandon sustainability efforts during economic downturns," Zuber said, referring to the practice where organizations spend more resources marketing themselves as environmentally sustainable than on maximizing actual sustainability initiatives. "The economy did contract in 2020, yet we observed companies doubling down on their sustainability commitments. They recognize these initiatives benefit their business performance."
Universities and Businesses: Powerhouses for AI-Driven Sustainability Innovation
"Amazon and all corporations are adapting to climate change effects, including extreme weather patterns, and will need to adapt further—but I'm not prepared to abandon decarbonization efforts," Wilke stated. "Regardless, companies must invest in decarbonization. Without these investments, achieving necessary progress becomes impossible."
Another critical component involves artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing applications. Krishna highlighted multiple ways AI and quantum computing will contribute at IBM, including identifying the most environmentally sustainable and cost-effective methods for advancing carbon separation in exhaust gases and improving lithium battery performance in electric vehicles.
AI technologies, quantum computing systems, and alternative energy sources such as fusion energy that offer potential pathways to achieving net-zero energy represent key research areas that students, researchers, and faculty members are actively pursuing at MIT.
"Universities like MIT must advance as rapidly and extensively as possible with current scientific and technological capabilities," Zuber concluded. "Simultaneously, we need to invest in and deploy new tools resulting from scientific and technological breakthroughs essential for reaching the 2050 decarbonization goal. Finally, we must continue training the next generation of students and researchers to address these challenges and deploy them within companies to develop practical solutions."
