Can AI Support Environmental Sustainability? 5 Ways It's Already Making an Impact

Julie Starr • May 12, 2025

As conversations about artificial intelligence (AI) evolve from hype to implementation, many sustainability professionals are beginning to ask: Can AI actually support environmental goals—or is it just another tech distraction?


At Taiga Company, we believe this is exactly the right kind of question. New tools should be approached with thoughtful inquiry and grounded optimism. While there’s plenty of noise in the AI space, we’re also seeing early signals that AI, when applied responsibly, may offer significant benefits in advancing sustainability strategies.

Below are five science-backed ways AI is already being used to support environmental sustainability—with links to explore the data behind each.


1. Optimizing Energy Use and Efficiency


AI can analyze and forecast energy needs, detect inefficiencies in real time, and automate building and grid-level energy decisions. Google, for example, used DeepMind’s AI to reduce the energy used for cooling its data centers by 40%—a significant operational and environmental win.


2. Enhancing Climate Modeling and Prediction


AI improves the accuracy and speed of climate models by processing vast datasets (like satellite data and atmospheric readings) faster than traditional tools. This can help scientists and policymakers better anticipate extreme weather, sea level rise, and other
climate-related risks.

3. Enabling Smarter Agriculture and Resource Use


In
agriculture, AI supports precision farming—using data to guide decisions around water use, fertilizers, and pest management. These tools can reduce resource consumption and emissions while supporting food security.

4. Accelerating Circular Economy and Waste Reduction


AI is being used to automate waste sorting, track materials through supply chains, and improve transparency around recycling and reuse. These innovations support circular economy goals and help reduce landfill and emissions.


5. Monitoring Ecosystems and Biodiversity


AI-powered sensors, drones, and satellites can track deforestation, monitor endangered species, and even detect illegal activity in protected areas—helping conservation efforts scale more efficiently.


What This Means for Corporate Sustainability


For corporate sustainability leaders, these examples show that AI is not a magic solution—but it might be a valuable tool in the toolkit. Like any technology, its value depends on how it’s implemented, what data it's trained on, and whether it’s integrated with strategic goals.


This is where communications plays a vital role. At Taiga Company, we help organizations articulate how technologies like AI fit into their broader environmental and business commitments. Whether through thought leadership, stakeholder education, reporting language, or digital engagement, our communications support helps make new tools understandable, actionable, and credible. We focus on:


– Translating complex innovation into clear, values-aligned messaging
– Engaging internal and external stakeholders on their learning journey
– Showcasing measurable impact while aligning with evolving standards and frameworks
– Sharing best practices in a way that encourages collaboration and informed adoption


AI is not just a technology story—it’s a communication opportunity. It invites sustainability leaders to educate, inspire, and engage stakeholders around how they are navigating this next chapter.


By Julie Starr May 31, 2025
Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It’s here, and it’s affecting the way we live, work, and plan for the future. While governments and industries shape policy and innovation, the real force for sustainable change often lies in the collective action of everyday people. And where do most of us spend a significant portion of our time? At work. Business leaders today have a powerful opportunity, not just to reduce their organization’s carbon footprint, but to inspire their teams to become informed, empowered agents of environmental change. This doesn’t require mandates or grandstanding. It requires creating space, providing tools, and nurturing a culture of ownership and purpose. Here’s how businesses can help employees build agency to tackle climate change, genuinely and sustainably. Start With Values, Not Directives Agency starts with alignment. When employees understand that their company’s sustainability goals are tied to shared values, like community well-being, health, and future resilience, they’re more likely to engage on a personal level. Instead of rolling out top-down rules or guilt-driven campaigns, bring your team into the conversation. Share why sustainability matters to your business and how it connects to broader human goals, like clean air, secure food systems, or thriving local economies. Make it about people, not just emissions. Use internal communication channels, leadership messages, and real-world storytelling to link climate action to shared values. When employees see climate action as a part of who they are, not just what you do, it becomes meaningful—and motivation follows naturally. Create Learning Opportunities, Not Just Compliance Training If your climate initiatives are hidden in policy manuals or one-time eLearning modules, they’re unlikely to spark change. Education is key, but it must be experiential, relevant, and ongoing. Consider lunch-and-learn sessions with environmental experts, interactive carbon footprint calculators for daily life, or documentary screening nights followed by open discussions. Think beyond the office too, offer book clubs focused on climate-related reads, or partner with local organizations for employee volunteer opportunities. Better yet, invite employees to lead the learning. Give space for those passionate about sustainability to share what they know. Peer learning builds community and creates a ripple effect that spreads across departments organically. Connect Individual Actions To Bigger Impact One of the most disempowering aspects of climate change is the feeling that individual actions are just a drop in the ocean. Businesses can change this narrative by connecting small choices to larger collective impact. Set up systems that track and report collective wins: pounds of waste diverted, miles of carpooling saved, or gallons of water conserved. Then celebrate those achievements, not as corporate milestones, but as team victories. Use dashboards, office signage, or intranet features to make the invisible visible. Seeing tangible outcomes from everyday actions builds a sense of contribution—and with it, the desire to do more. Give Employees A Say In The Sustainability Journey Employee agency grows when people feel they have a voice. Instead of dictating a sustainability plan, co-create one. Hold climate idea challenges or “green hackathons” where employees pitch solutions. Whether it’s optimizing energy use, reducing packaging, or reinventing business travel policies. Reward creativity and follow through on the best ideas. You could also form a cross-functional sustainability council, with real influence over decision-making. This gives team members an active role in shaping initiatives, while creating a feedback loop that keeps strategies grounded in reality. When employees are part of the design process, they’re far more likely to become ambassadors of change. Empower Everyday Decision-Making Sustainability shouldn’t be a side project, it should be embedded in everyday workflows. This means equipping employees with the autonomy and tools to make eco-friendly choices in real time. For instance reaching out to a micro market vending provider could help you influence your team’s footprint by controlling the offering. A vending space filled with locally sourced, low-waste snacks sends a clear message: “We care, and we’re helping you care too.” Similarly, empower team leads to make sustainable choices in how they host meetings, manage print resources, or design events. Encourage departments to set their own sustainability goals aligned with the company’s mission, giving them ownership of their climate journey. The more decisions employees can make sustainably without bureaucratic friction, the more natural and authentic their climate action becomes. Offer Climate-Friendly Benefits One of the most impactful ways businesses can support climate agency is through thoughtful benefits that align with a lower-carbon lifestyle. Consider incentives for public transit, biking, or EV usage. Provide reimbursement for energy-efficient home office upgrades. Offer paid volunteer days for environmental projects, or match donations to climate-focused nonprofits. Even offering flexibility in remote work can significantly reduce commuting emissions, while also boosting employee satisfaction and retention. When the structure of work supports sustainable living, employees don’t have to choose between personal values and professional life. Instead, the two can harmonize. Lead By Example, But Stay Human Leadership’s behavior matters. If executives say one thing and do another, like flying first-class to climate conferences while pushing paperless policies, it erodes trust and diminishes morale. But leadership doesn’t have to mean perfection. Transparency and sincerity go a long way. Share your own climate learning curve. Talk about the changes you’re making, the challenges you face, and why it matters to you personally. This creates a culture of progress , not perfection. One where employees feel safe to try, fail, and grow in their own climate journey. Highlight Purpose Over Pressure Tackling climate change can feel overwhelming. Instead of stressing urgency through fear, focus on opportunity through purpose. Position climate action as a chance to be part of something meaningful: to innovate, to lead, to protect what we love. Show how employees’ actions support something bigger than themselves. Whether that’s cleaner communities, healthier families, or a thriving planet. This purpose-driven approach motivates far more deeply than doom-driven appeals. It taps into the human desire to contribute and connect—core ingredients of true agency. Make Sustainability Fun And Creative Sustainability doesn’t have to be serious all the time. Creative, playful engagement builds energy and makes climate action feel approachable. Host “green your desk” competitions. Run upcycling workshops during team-building days. Encourage departments to compete for the lowest energy use or create art from recycled materials .Gamify environmental goals with rewards that reinforce the message (like reusable swag or tree-planting donations). When climate action is fun, it stops being a burden, and starts being something people want to do. Build A Legacy Ultimately, the most powerful way to build employee agency around climate change is to invite them into something bigger than themselves, a legacy worth building. Frame your organization’s climate journey as a shared adventure. What kind of future do you want to help create together? What kind of company do you want to be remembered as? Give people something to belong to. Something they can be proud of. Because at the end of the day, most employees don’t want to just clock in and clock out. They want to be part of something meaningful. And helping to shape a more sustainable, just, and resilient world? That’s about as meaningful as it gets. Supporting employees to lead on climate doesn’t mean preaching or pressuring. It means cultivating a workplace where values, purpose, and action are in sync. Where every person feels they matter, and that what they do makes a difference. This kind of cultural shift isn’t just good for the planet. It builds trust, strengthens engagement, and sets your business apart as a place where people, and the future can thrive. Let’s move beyond mandates and toward movements. Your employees are ready. Let’s help them lead.
By Julie Starr May 26, 2025
At Taiga Company, we’re committed to helping organizations stay ahead of the curve where sustainability meets innovation. In May, our blog posts explored emerging trends, practical strategies, and forward-thinking tools that businesses and communities can use to drive meaningful progress. From AI and Web3 to smarter supply chains and better communication, May’s content spotlighted the growing opportunities to align purpose with performance. Here’s a quick recap of the blog posts we published this month: Can AI Support Environmental Sustainability? 5 Ways It's Already Making an Impact We explored how artificial intelligence is being used to advance sustainability, from optimizing energy use to enhancing predictive analytics for climate impact. A Greener Supply Chain with Micro Fulfillment This post looked at the role of micro fulfillment centers in reducing last-mile emissions, improving local access, and minimizing waste in ecommerce logistics. Sustainability in Ecommerce: 3 Ways to Make Progress Where It Matters We identified the highest-impact opportunities for ecommerce brands to improve sustainability, including packaging, shipping, and supply chain visibility. Integrating Sustainability in the Age of AI: Why Communications Matter More Than Ever In this post, we emphasized how clear, credible communication can strengthen sustainability outcomes, especially as AI tools become more prominent in decision-making and reporting. Building a Greener Community: 5 Smart Strategies We shared practical ideas for creating local impact, highlighting collaborative efforts that bring together individuals, businesses, and municipalities. Web3 and the Future of ESG: A New Frontier for Sustainability Storytelling This forward-looking post unpacked how decentralized technologies are reshaping transparency, engagement, and authenticity in ESG narratives. Common Themes Across each of these articles, several powerful themes emerged: Technology as a sustainability enabler: From AI to Web3, innovation is proving essential in driving efficiency, traceability, and engagement. Local action, global impact : Whether it’s micro fulfillment or community partnerships, scaling down can often lead to scaled-up results. Communication as a catalyst : With growing complexity in tools and expectations, the way we talk about sustainability is just as important as what we do. As we look ahead to June, we remain focused on equipping our clients and readers with tools, insights, and strategies that help drive change—intentionally, transparently, and impactfully. Explore more on our blog and get in touch if you’re ready to elevate your sustainability communications.