The implementation of generative AI systems can enable more equitable access to environmental knowledge. To improve this access, a first working group was formed, bringing together the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the OECD, two IPBES cross-functional technical support units (TSU), the TSU of IPCC Working Group 1, the World Meteorological Organization, the OECD and UNESCO, as well as INRIA, the Ecolab of the General Commission for Sustainable Development, Cerema, ADEME, researchers and businesses.

The objective is to improve access to environmental information through the development of good practices using generative AI. This working group met ahead of the Summit in Paris at the Ministry of Ecological Transition, with the aim of continuing its efforts over the long term.

This initiative responds to a major challenge: AI can help ensure ethical and equitable access to environmental knowledge. Today, scientific, governmental and specialized environmental documentation is mainly concentrated in the knowledge centers of national and international institutions, stored in very long PDF files. They contain essential details, such as graphs, tables, images, figures, texts, critical metadata. However, the richness of the information contained, its format or size limit its many obstacles to the appropriation of this information by the public. Generative AI, through conversational agents, offers a mediation interface that democratizes access to this knowledge. However, an effective and ethical use of these generative AI tools is not immediate.

The working group will work on establishing a guide of good practices for the use of generative AI to provide access to environmental reports. Discussions will focus on technical challenges (interoperability, taxonomy, sharing protocols, etc.), ethical issues (bias of AI models, consistency of sources, relationship to knowledge, etc.) and practical uses for researchers, decision-makers and citizens. This work thus aims to facilitate better accessibility and use of environmental knowledge thanks to advances in AI.

Meetings of the Working Group

February 7, 2025: 1st meeting at the French Ministry of Environment, ahead of the AI Action Summit