In a country where a failed monsoon can tip millions into distress and a single heatwave can bring cities to a standstill, Artificial intelligence (AI) may well be the climate ally India did not know it needed. Imagine if the monsoon had a mind that could be read, predicted, even gently reasoned with. AI may not grant us divine control, but it is beginning to feel like the weather whisperer we never had.
Forecasting the future:
AI is giving us a superpower, which is the ability to anticipate disasters before they strike. In Tamil Nadu, real-time flood forecasting has become a reality, with the state using an integrated system that combines weather models, GIS mapping and real-time data to help authorities issue timely flood alerts and evacuation plans. In Maharashtra, researchers are using machine learning models to assess groundwater storage changes, improving water resource management for drought-prone agricultural regions.
Even the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is stepping up its game. It has embraced AI and machine learning to revolutionise its forecasting. By deploying new tools like the Mausamgram platform and sophisticated AI‑driven numerical weather prediction models, IMD has boosted forecast accuracy by 40–50%, enabling localised, real‑time weather warnings and strengthening disaster readiness. Imagine the power of telling a farmer in Vidarbha not just if it will rain, but exactly where and when.
Smart farming and climate resilience:
Platforms like KisanMitra, CropIn and Fasal leverage satellite imagery and machine learning to deliver real-time, farm-level advisories on optimal sowing, irrigation, harvesting schedules and pest or disease management, helping farmers make data-driven decisions
In a recent development, the government is launching a Rs 6,000 crore precision farming scheme under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), covering 15,000 acres over five years (2024–29) and benefiting around 60,000 farmers with support for AI, drones, Internet of Things (IoT) and data-driven agriculture. It includes interest‑subsidised loans via the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, 22 Precision Farming Development Centres and international collaborations with Israel and the Netherlands to scale smart farming across India
AI for resilient cities:
As India faces the escalating impacts of climate change, cities across the country are turning to AI to build smarter and more resilient urban systems. In Ahmedabad, the Heat Action Plan combines satellite data, reflective paint and wearable technology such as smartwatches. AI analysis helps identify vulnerable populations and guides the placement of cooling centres and kiosks. In Chennai, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has successfully tested an underwater acoustic communication system, which is essentially an “underwater telephone” using hydrophones. This technology supports real-time communication between deep-sea submersibles and surface vessels during the Samudrayaan mission, laying foundational infrastructure for future AI-enhanced monitoring of ocean conditions
In Bengaluru, AI-powered traffic management systems have reduced travel times by up to 33%. These systems use camera data and satellite-based navigation tools to adjust signal timings, reduce idle time, lower emissions and improve traffic flow. These technology-driven solutions are already making a measurable difference in how Indian cities respond to climate challenges.
The Flipside of AI
While using AI has all the advantages discussed thus far, let us not be too dazzled. Training massive AI models takes enormous electricity, often powered by fossil fuels. For instance, training large AI models like GPT-3 emits approximately 502 tons of carbon dioxide and uses 1,300 MegaWatt hours of power, which is equivalent to the annual emissions of 109 cars.
In India alone, the data centre capacity is expected to increase nearly 9 times, rising from around 960 MegaWatts currently to approximately 9.2 GigaWatts by 2030. This surge could push data centres’ share of national electricity consumption from 0.5% to a whopping 3%, most of which is still coal-powered. In addition to energy use, these facilities demand vast amounts of water; a single 100 MegaWatt centre may consume up to 11 lakh litres of water per day, placing additional strain on already water-stressed urban regions.
Responsible AI - The Middle Path
To truly make AI part of the climate solution, India needs to focus on two key goals, making it eco-friendly and making it work for everyone. First, we must power AI with clean energy by building renewable energy-powered data centres and encouraging the use of energy-efficient technology. Second, we need to make sure AI tools reach the people who need them most. These tools can help enable better farming, smarter water use, faster disaster response and more climate-resilient cities by guiding urban cooling efforts, optimising traffic to cut emissions and strengthening coastal and ocean monitoring systems. Finally, we need to build AI ethics frameworks that ensure environmental justice and transparency while empowering community-led innovation to prevent monopolies in climate tech.
AI holds enormous potential to help India tackle the climate crisis, but only if we use it wisely. The path ahead demands thoughtful choices. India is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. With our deep pool of tech talent, spirit of innovation and lived experience of climate impacts, we have the opportunity to create a model that the world can learn from. Rather than adopting off-the-shelf solutions, we must develop our own solutions that are rooted in sustainability, built for inclusion and guided by the needs of our people. If we get this right, AI can become a powerful ally in India’s fight against climate change that serves not just growth, but justice.
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