WWF uses AI to show what nature will look like in the future
As part of a campaign by WWF Switzerland, tourists this week got to see not only the water-rich Rhine Falls, but also a vision of what the Rhine Falls might look like in 2085. Using AI, the WWF demonstrated how the climate crisis could transform local landscapes in the future.
As part of the campaign, images of the future were created of the Aletsch glacier, the Matterhorn, the vineyards of Lavaux and, of course, the Rhine Falls using artificial intelligence based on scientific data.
The total of four AI images are intended to visualize how Swiss landscapes could change if no climate protection measures are taken and climate-damaging emissions continue to increase.
Visitors to the Rhine Falls were confronted with the AI version of the waterfall from the year 2085. The reactions in the video ranged from speechlessness to anger.
With this campaign, WWF wants to remind voters shortly before the federal elections how important an environmentally friendly parliament is. "On October 22, nature needs every vote. Only if we elect as many environmentally friendly politicians as possible to parliament will we be able to act quickly and decisively to protect our environment and thus ourselves. I want to be able to show my grandchildren the Rhine Falls," says Adrian Mahlstein, campaign manager at WWF Switzerland.
What will Switzerland look like in 2085?
According to calculations by the organization "Climate Action Tracker," the implemented worldwide climate laws are expected to lead to global warming of about 2.7 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Because Switzerland, as an Alpine country, is particularly affected by this warming, the predicted warming here could be almost twice as high.
With the help of data specialists, WWF had an AI learn and feed it with changes as they are to be expected according to the pessimistic IPCC emissions scenario RCP 8.5. Climate indicators such as heat days, summer days, average maximum temperature over 14 days, frost days or ice days for the period from 2070 to 2099 were also included in the calculation. According to WWF, the change scenarios and the resulting AI visualizations were reviewed by climate experts.
Election information about the environmental friendliness of the parties and the candidates can be found on Environmentalrating.ch.
