How AI will reshape the political opportunity for climate

Abstract

Political issues such as climate change, which lack the salience to stand on their own, piggyback on the issues that are most salient to citizens. Today, that is overwhelmingly the immediate pressure of the cost of living. But this is not always the case. Systemic, societal issues have become salient before. And the signs are that AI is set to reshape the political landscape, raising the salience of systemic concerns that are at the core of the climate issue but are not getting attention today. This could turn out to be good news for climate action, opening up political territory that climate needs but has not been able to reach. Or it could be bad news, with AI dominating that territory as fast as it opens it. Either way, it is the public reaction to AI, rather than climate change, that is likely to shape our perspectives and define what’s possible. Tracking and building on what AI makes salient may unlock the most promising opportunities for climate.