Last March, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket into space from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It carried more than 40 payloads on board, including a satellite called MethaneSAT, which was designed to track methane emissions around the globe. Cutting methane emissions is a critical step toward reducing the rise of global temperatures that climate change is spreading to communities. In this episode, we have two stories about how data centers – and the AI they enable – are helping to mitigate the invisible threats of heat and air pollution around the world, particularly for vulnerable populations. From satellites to tree canopies, we ask how AI can help protect human health, reduce air pollution, and temper the urban heat island effect in our cities. Guests: Mansi Kansal, Cool Roofs product manager at Google Dr. Monica Bharel, clinical lead for public sector health at Google Karin Tuxen-Bettman, Google Earth outreach manager Millie Chu Baird, VP, Office of Chief Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund Fatima Luna, chief resilience officer, City of Tucson Watch our complementary documentary about how Google’s data centers are helping make the invisible threats of air pollution and methane emissions visible.
