A nature protection AI tool has been launched by The Sustainable Markets Initiative and AECOM, to protect nature during infrastructure development
The Sustainable Markets Initiative and AECOM have launched a new nature protection AI tool.
The tool is intended to protect nature and promote sustainable development of infrastructure.
The nature protection AI tool can analyse any piece of land
The nature protected AI tool, named the Nature Risk Tool, analyses pieces of land, providing insight into the natural features there.
These features include habitats and biomes, and will help planners and policymakers to create sustainable infrastructure while protecting the environment as well.
The development of the AI comes at a time where infrastructure development generally means the damaging or destruction of nature in some way, including habitat loss, biodiversity decline, pollution, and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Some features of the nature protection AI tool include:
- SMI Nature Risk Tool uses data and AI to inform infrastructure projects, promoting sustainable development and environmental protection.
- Can analyse land anywhere in the world, offering expert-reviewed descriptions of habitats and biomes.
- Identifies protected species early in the site selection phase, allowing for protective measures to be integrated into development plans.
- Successfully trialled by organisations including the World Bank, BP, KPMG, WWF, Barclays, HSBC, and the Blue Dot Network.
Nature is important to sustainability
Jennifer Jordan Saifi, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, said: “Nature is the engine of our economy, which is why it lies at the heart of our mandate, the Terra Carta. It is central to providing us with solutions for a sustainable future.
“Partnering with AECOM, we have been able to demonstrate the significant impact that infrastructure development can have on global biodiversity.
“This is why I am proud to be launching the SMI Nature Risk Tool, something we hope will have many use cases and that will act as a powerful resource for developers and policymakers worldwide as we work collectively to protect and restore harmony with Nature.”
Troy Rudd, CEO and head of the measurement and transparency task force, AECOM, said: “We are incredibly excited about this partnership with the Sustainable Market Initiative. By combining our expertise in infrastructure consulting with SMI’s commitment to sustainability, we are setting a new standard for how projects can be planned and executed with nature and biodiversity at the forefront.
“This collaboration not only enhances our ability to deliver innovative solutions but also underscores our shared vision for a more sustainable and resilient future.”
