Priscilla Chomba-Kinywa, the Chief Technology Officer of Greenpeace, underscores the pivotal role technology plays in addressing the climate crisis. She asserts that technology can either exacerbate environmental issues or become a force for good. Drawing attention to the environmental cost of artificial intelligence, she emphasizes the importance of evaluating its impact on our planet. Chomba-Kinywa advocates for listening to Indigenous knowledge and collaborating with communities worldwide to foster a sustainable future.
The climate crisis demands urgent action. Last year, wildfires ravaged North America, while Southern Africa and Greece faced devastating floods and fires. The International Panel on Climate Change warns that Earth has less than seven years before it becomes increasingly inhospitable. Chomba-Kinywa believes businesses should engage with communities from Senegal, Zambia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Mexico to support their environmental movements.
“Sit with the elders in their communities, listen to the Indigenous knowledge that allowed them to coexist with nature, and start to reapply some of those principles,” – Priscilla Chomba-Kinywa
Greenpeace has been leveraging data since 2009 to persuade tech giants to commit to 100% renewable energy. Notable progress has been made, but more needs to be done. Chomba-Kinywa urges consumers to hold companies accountable by scrutinizing their environmental policies.
“Say, ‘We’ve looked at the data, we’ve looked at your plans. You’re not doing enough, and we won’t give you our money.’ Then maybe we can make a little bit more of a change.” – Priscilla Chomba-Kinywa
Hyundai is among the companies taking significant steps to address the climate crisis. The automaker has pledged to halt the supply of heavy machinery used for illegal mining in the Amazon. This decision followed a report generated from satellite imagery and pressure from Indigenous leaders, which Hyundai could not ignore.
“We need to think through the environmental cost of AI. It has the potential to help us solve some of humanity’s grand challenges, but that’s only useful if humanity has a livable planet.” – Priscilla Chomba-Kinywa
Chomba-Kinywa commends companies like Hyundai that are committed to ethical and value-based solutions. She highlights the need for platforms that prioritize sustainability and ethics over profits, providing alternatives to current technology offerings.
“We’re talking about values, ethics, and putting guardrails in place—but we can’t do that without talking about the environment,” – Priscilla Chomba-Kinywa
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