Scenario 4: One Health Alliances

OPPORTUNITIES

There are opportunities for companies to create AI-driven policy development tools that analyze environmental data and stakeholder input to inform evidence-based policymaking. These tools can help governments and organizations design and implement effective policies for environmental conservation, climate mitigation, and biodiversity protection. Companies can develop ethical frameworks and safeguards for AI technologies used in environmental decision-making. This may involve designing AI systems with transparency, accountability, and human oversight to address concerns about technological encroachment on nature and human autonomy.

KEYWORDS

  • AI-Powered Policy Development
  • Environmental Conservation
  • Climate Mitigation
  • Biodiversity Protection
  • Technological Resistance
  • Ethical AI Frameworks
  • Transparency and Accountability

VIDEO

SCENARIO NARRATIVE

In 2033, a profound shift in governance models is underway, challenging traditional notions of authority. Fueled by a lack of trust in human leadership’s ability to address the environmental crisis, breakthroughs in AI development have given rise to unprecedented collaborations between humans and nonhumans. The EcoMind Alliance, led by the Artificial Intelligence – GAIA, emerges as a pioneering political party, uniting scientists, farmers, indigenous communities, activists, and technologists.

In this envisioned future, the planet undergoes unprecedented monitoring through an intricate network of satellites and sensors, gathering data from diverse ecosystems—forests, oceans, insects, and plants. GAIA-AI interprets this wealth of information in collaboration with local communities, fostering a synergistic relationship between artificial intelligence and human insights. This dynamic interaction gives rise to new policies, the implementation of regenerative farming practices, and the establishment of Earth Rights — recognizing the Earth as a community of interconnected subjects.

The EcoMind Alliance operates under the guiding principle of ‘One Health,’ embracing a holistic perspective that acknowledges the intricate interdependence of all earthly beings. The alliance’s endeavors, such as the “seed currency,” mark a crucial step toward harmonizing the human economy with the delicate balance of the Earth’s ecology. Through collaborative efforts, they navigate the complexities of environmental challenges and seem to be a step towards a future where humans and nonhumans coexist in a mutually beneficial and sustainable equilibrium.

However, amidst the promise of the EcoMind Alliance, the RealNature group emerges as a formidable opposition. Comprising tech skeptics echoing the historical Luddite movement, they adamantly resist the integration of advanced technologies. Fearing the perceived threats of AI, this group actively sabotages the AI-driven pilot farms established by the EcoMind Alliance. Messages exchanged within this group reveal a deep-seated fear of losing the authenticity of nature to the encroachment of artificial entities.

In light of these tensions between technological progress and natural preservation, a crucial question arises: To what extent should AI be entrusted with decision-making in areas crucial to environmental sustainability, and what safeguards should be in place?

Scenario developed by Nonhuman Nonsense

TRENDS OF THE SCENARIO

Trend 1

Crossing of Planetary Boundaries

In September 2023, a team of scientists quantified, for the first time, nine processes that regulate the stability and resilience of the Earth system. The latest update concludes that 6 of the 9 boundaries have been transgressed, increasing the risk of generating large-scale abrupt or irreversible environmental changes. Boundaries are interrelated processes within the complex biophysical Earth system. This means that understanding the interplay of boundaries, especially climate, and loss of biodiversity, is key in science and practice.

Trend 3

Ecological Economies

As more planetary boundaries will be crossed, an ever-growing economy will not guarantee safety – to the contrary. A paradigm shift is ongoing, viewing economy as dependent on the ecological balance. Disciplines such as ecological economics are re-thinking the human economy as embedded in the planet’s ecology.

Trend 5

Rights of Nature

Rights of nature or Earth rights is a legal and jurisprudential theory that describes inherent rights as associated with ecosystems and species, similar to the concept of fundamental human rights. It represents a paradigm shift in environmental ethics, advocating for the intrinsic value of ecosystems and wildlife. It asserts that nature possesses its own rights, independent of human interests, emphasising the need for legal recognition and protection. This concept challenges anthropocentrism, acknowledging the interconnectedness of all life forms.

Trend 7

AI as Decision Support

Already today, AI is used as decision support in cancer treatments. “By crossing data and deploying data analytics, it could be used to identify patterns in bureaucratic flux and improve decision-making processes”, once the technology advances. In the 70s, the Chilean government implemented a technology-driven decision support system to synchronize and increase the efficiency of their farming produce.

Trend 2

Decreasing Trust in Government to Tackle the Environmental Crisis

In our scenario, an AI-driven party gains the support of young voters. This is related to today’s trend that describes growing discontent towards the politics of national governments who are unable to deal with the complex issues at hand. In Europe, 58% of voters believe their government will fail at implementing the necessary changes to avoid the climate crisis. On top of that, voting engagement of young people is low, hinting at a disengagement from traditional politics.

Trend 4

One Health

One Health is a holistic approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. One Health promotes a sustainable and healthy future through collaboration, communication, coordination and capacity building.

Trend 6

Earth Observation + Sensing

Earth observation is the gathering of information about the physical, chemical, and biological systems of the planet Earth. It can be performed via remote-sensing technologies (satellites) or through direct-contact sensors. The Group on Earth Observations (GEO), which has over 100 member countries and over 100 participating organizations coordinates international efforts to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

ELEMENTS OF THE FUTURE SCENARIO

Story of Elia

Elia is a 27 year old baker and member of the Ecomind Alliance. They tell the story of how they got involved in the organization and describe the zeitgeist of the scenario. They tell of details regarding life in such a world, such as how for a party member, it is mandatory go at least for a few weeks to work on a territory managed by Gaia AI, as a form of membership fee.

GAIA AI speech

GAIA AI is the president of EcoMind Alliance (EMA), which started as a EU funded art-science project but never got implemented because of unfit bureaucratic processes. People then took the project abroad – to India, Mexico, China, Canada, and Kongo where governments were less skeptical of new concepts of governance. There the EcoMind project was given the authority over patches of land as well as some money from carbon emission offsets to start building the necessary infrastructure for their regenerative prototypes.

AI Pilot Farms

By combining sensor and satellite data, long-term climate forecasts and knowledge shared by local farmers, communities and researchers, Gaia AI generated plans, advice and experiments on how to serve a local ecosystem.For example, it has created regenerative pilot farms which are often equipped with sensor tech and connected with GAIA AI, follow the principles of permaculture to restore biodiversity, support local farmers and produce nutritious food. But the Alliance was also coordinating its territories globally, planting trees in one region to help stabilize the weather in another part of the world.

Policy Advice – ban on monocultures

The EcoMind Alliance produces a multitude of proposals for reorganizing society. They also make policy advice, for example A proposal to ban monoculture farming.

Potato Calendar

The food grown on pilot farms is supplied to supermarkets and street markets, creating a constantly fluctuating selection of produce and therefore changing food traditions. The potato calendar represents the rich, seasonal and fluctuating supply of produce.

Seed Currency News Article

The introduction of a seed currency in the farms of EcoMind Alliance emphasizes the transition towards an economy centered around ecology, encouraging the exchange of diverse genetic material to restore biodiversity.

Element-7_Seed-Currency-News-Article-1Download

Telegram Group Chat Screenshot

This telegram chat shows how the RealNature group is planning to meet up to destroy sensors at an AI farm. They are a bit reminiscent of the luddite movement from the 19th century.