BCG recently surveyed global public- and private-sector climate and AI leaders about their views on the potential of AI as a tool in the fight against climate change as well as the roadblocks that prevent its adoption.

1. Source: BCG Climate AI survey, May 2022.
Our 2022 survey revealed that most climate and AI leaders want to use AI to
fight climate change, but face clear obstacles in adopting it
To gauge public- and private-sector
leaders’ opinions on the use of AI
in the fight against climate change,
BCG conducted a survey of over
1,000 executives with full or partial
decision-making authority
regarding AI and/or climate
The sample, collected in May 2022,
covers 14 countries (Argentina,
Australia, Brazil, Chile, China,
France, Germany, India, Japan,
New Zealand, South Africa, Spain,
the UK, and the US)
Key findings
· 87% of climate and AI leaders find AI to be a helpful tool in the
fight against climate change
· 43% of organizations , led by industrial goods companies, can
envision using AI for their own climate efforts today
· The US leads among Global North countries, with more than half
of its leaders envisioning using AI for climate at their organizations
· Even leaders already engaged in the space face major obstacles to
climate AI use: 78% cite insufficient access to AI expertise, 77%
have limited availability of AI solutions, and 67% face a lack of
confidence in AI data and analysis
· 67% of private-sector climate and AI leaders want governments to
do more to support the use of AI to combat climate change
· Leaders see the greatest business value for AI in the reduction
and measurement of emissions

2. Public- and private-sector leaders who oversee climate and AI topics support
using AI to fight climate change, but only 43% have a vision for how to use it
Source: BCG Climate AI survey, May 2022.
Note: All respondents have decision-making authority over climate or AI topics at their organizations. Respondents were asked if their organization has a “clear vision for how advanced analytics and AI can be used in climate change efforts.” “Public sector”
excludes academia.
87%
of respondents say that AI
is a helpful tool in the fight
against climate change
Just 43% of organizations can envision using AI for their own climate efforts
Industrial goods
Public sector
Automotive
Financial institutions and insurance
Technology, media, and telecommunications
Energy
Health care
Consumer
RESPONDENTS (%)
Overall 43%
53
48
44
43
43
42
35
30

3. More than half of US leaders envision using AI in climate change, versus about
a quarter of Japanese leaders
Source: BCG Climate AI survey, May 2022.
Note: Respondents were asked if their organization has a “clear vision for how advanced analytics and AI can be used in climate change efforts.”
Roughly 40% of organizations can envision using AI for their own climate efforts
US
Spain
UK
France
Germany
Australia/New Zealand
Japan
COUNTRY ORGANIZATIONS (%)
54
47
46
42
30
29
24

4. Leaders cite insufficient expertise, availability, and confidence as obstacles to
using AI in their climate change efforts
Source: BCG Climate AI survey, May 2022.
Note: All respondents have decision-making authority over climate or AI topics at their organizations. Respondents were permitted to give more than one answer. “Public sector” excludes academia.
Respondents listed the following as obstacles (%)
78
85% 75%
Insufficient access to AI expertise,
inside or outside the organization
Limited availability of
AI solutions and products
Lack of confidence in
AI data and analysis
77 67
PUBLIC SECTOR PRIVATE SECTOR
82% 74%
PUBLIC SECTOR PRIVATE SECTOR
77% 64%
PUBLIC SECTOR PRIVATE SECTOR

5. 67%
PRIVATE SECTOR PUBLIC SECTOR
Private-sector leaders recognize the potential of advanced analytics and AI and
want governments to do more to support using AI to fight climate change
Source: BCG Climate AI survey, May 2022.
Note: Represents 735 private sector respondents and 218 public sector respondents. “Public sector” excludes academia.
of private-sector respondents feel that
governments should do more to support
the use of climate-AI
39%
of public-sector respondents say that
governments should do more to support
the private-sector use of climate AI

6. Public- and private-sector leaders see the greatest business value in reducing
and measuring emissions
Source: BCG Climate AI survey, May 2022.
Note: All respondents have decision-making authority over climate or AI topics at their organizations. Respondents were permitted to give more than one answer.
In which areas of climate-related advanced analytics and AI do you see the greatest business value for your organization?
Mitigation: reducing emissions
Mitigation: measuring emissions
Adaptation: forecasting hazards
Adaptation: managing vulnerabilities and exposure
Mitigation: removing emissions
Fundamentals: facilitating climate research,
climate finance, and education
RESPONDENTS (%)
61
57
44
42
37
28
Particularly strong in the private sector

7. Source: BCG Climate AI survey, May 2022.
Note: “Public sector” excludes academia. “Other” includes 22 respondents whose organizations primarily focus on serving the public sector, nonprofits, or academia.
Japan
France
Germany
Spain
India
UK
US
China
Australia/New Zealand
Argentina
South Africa
Brazil
Chile
NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS
COUNTRY
102
100
99
99
98
97
96
89
52
50
49
46
28
Survey methodology: We surveyed 1,005 AI and climate leaders across
13 countries and 9 industries
NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS
INDUSTRY
Public sector
Academia and nonprofit
Technology, media, and telecommunications
Financial institutions and insurance
Industrial goods
Consumer
Automotive
Energy
Healthcare
Other
218
52
207
139
105
76
45
43
40
80
Total
private
sector:
735

8. All respondents in our survey were primary or joint decision makers on either
AI or climate, and 74% were decision makers on both
Source: BCG Climate AI survey, May 2022.
Both
AI
Climate
DECISION-MAKING
DOMAIN
RESPONDENTS (%)
74
17
9
We questioned these leaders on their
opinions across two main topics:
· Potential of AI as a tool in the fight
against climate change
· Roadblocks preventing adoption of
climate AI

9. Source: BCG Climate AI survey, May 2022.
Note: Because of rounding, the percentages given for the individual bars in a column may not add up to 100%.
1
Includes only private-sector organizations.
ORGANIZATIONS (%)
HEADCOUNT ORGANIZATIONS (%)1
ANNUAL REVENUES
Less than $100 million
$100 million–$499 million
$500 million–$999 million
$1 billion–$4.9 billion
$5 billion–$10 billion
Over $10 billion
Less than 1,000
1,000–5,000
5,001–10,000
10,001–20,000
20,001–50,000
50,001–100,000
More than 100,000
The survey represents organizations across a wide range of headcounts and
annual revenues
7
19
22
29
13
11
2
30
23
16
12
10
7