IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-024-53956-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven approach to climate action and sustainable development

Author

Listed:
  • Haein Cho

    (National Assembly Futures Institute
    Samsung Electronics)

  • Emmanuel Ackom

    (University of North Alabama
    University of British Columbia)

Abstract

Countries have pledged commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement to combat climate change. To maximize synergies between SDGs and climate actions (CAs), we evaluate the alignment of national commitment to SDGs and emissions reduction targets by comparing action plans embodied in Voluntary National Review (VNR) reports and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) across 67 countries. An Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based approach is proposed in this study to explore the interconnectedness by applying machine learning classifier and natural language processing. Middle- and low-income countries with high emissions tend to have low NDC targets and contain similar information in VNR reports. High-income countries show less alignment between their NDCs and VNRs. The economic status of countries is found to be connected to their climate actions and SDGs alignment. Here, we demonstrate utility and promise in using AI techniques to unravel interactions between CA and SDG.

Suggested Citation

  • Haein Cho & Emmanuel Ackom, 2025. "Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven approach to climate action and sustainable development," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53956-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53956-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53956-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-53956-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Grajzl, Peter & Murrell, Peter, 2019. "Toward understanding 17th century English culture: A structural topic model of Francis Bacon's ideas," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 111-135.
    2. Brandi, Clara & Dzebo, Adis & Janetschek, Hannah, 2017. "The case for connecting the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Briefing Papers 21/2017, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    3. Ahmad Mohd Khalid, 2023. "Creating Synergies among the Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Action: Insights from a Developing Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-23, August.
    4. Joana Cruz & Piran C. L. White & Andrew Bell & Peter A. Coventry, 2020. "Effect of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health: A Narrative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis for the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-17, November.
    5. Khanyisa B. Mantlana & Malebajoa A. Maoela & Godwell Nhamo, 2021. "Mapping South Africaʼs nationally determined contributions to the targets of the sustainable development goals," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 45(1), pages 3-17, February.
    6. Wenying Zhou & Yang Yang & Cheng Yu & Juxian Liu & Xingxing Duan & Zongjie Weng & Dan Chen & Qianhong Liang & Qin Fang & Jiaojiao Zhou & Hao Ju & Zhenhua Luo & Weihao Guo & Xiaoyan Ma & Xiaoyan Xie & , 2021. "Ensembled deep learning model outperforms human experts in diagnosing biliary atresia from sonographic gallbladder images," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    7. Andreas Wunsch & Tanja Liesch & Stefan Broda, 2022. "Deep learning shows declining groundwater levels in Germany until 2100 due to climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Qiu, Lei & Wang, Xiaoyang & Wei, Jia, 2023. "Energy security and energy management: The role of extreme natural events," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 2(2).
    2. Li Tang & Jennifer Kuzma & Xi Zhang & Xinyu Song & Yin Li & Hongxu Liu & Guangyuan Hu, 2023. "Synthetic biology and governance research in China: a 40-year evolution," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(9), pages 5293-5310, September.
    3. Mohamed M. Mostafa, 2023. "A one-hundred-year structural topic modeling analysis of the knowledge structure of international management research," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 3905-3935, August.
    4. Rao, Amar & Srivastava, Mrinalini & Parihar, Jaya Singh & Chavriya, Shubham & Hosen, Mosharrof, 2024. "Minerals at the crossroads: Economic policies, global trade, and renewable energy in the global South," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    5. Mišák, Vojtěch, 2024. "Does heat cause homicides? A meta-analysis," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    6. Kang Su & Jingwei Liu & Xiaoqi Ren & Yingxiang Huo & Guanglong Du & Wei Zhao & Xueqian Wang & Bin Liang & Di Li & Peter Xiaoping Liu, 2024. "A fully autonomous robotic ultrasound system for thyroid scanning," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    7. Simon A. Schroeter & Alice May Orme & Katharina Lehmann & Robert Lehmann & Narendrakumar M. Chaudhari & Kirsten Küsel & He Wang & Anke Hildebrandt & Kai Uwe Totsche & Susan Trumbore & Gerd Gleixner, 2025. "Hydroclimatic extremes threaten groundwater quality and stability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    8. Jennifer M. First & Kelsey Ellis & Mary Lehman Held & Florence Glass, 2021. "Identifying Risk and Resilience Factors Impacting Mental Health among Black and Latinx Adults following Nocturnal Tornadoes in the U.S. Southeast," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-13, August.
    9. Fuzhi Lu & Huayu Lu & Yao Gu & Pengyu Lin & Zhengyao Lu & Qiong Zhang & Hongyan Zhang & Fan Yang & Xiaoyi Dong & Shuangwen Yi & Deliang Chen & Francesco S. R. Pausata & Maya Ben-Yami & Jennifer V. Mec, 2025. "Tipping point-induced abrupt shifts in East Asian hydroclimate since the Last Glacial Maximum," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-21, December.
    10. Xueyi Zheng & Ruixuan Wang & Xinke Zhang & Yan Sun & Haohuan Zhang & Zihan Zhao & Yuanhang Zheng & Jing Luo & Jiangyu Zhang & Hongmei Wu & Dan Huang & Wenbiao Zhu & Jianning Chen & Qinghua Cao & Hong , 2022. "A deep learning model and human-machine fusion for prediction of EBV-associated gastric cancer from histopathology," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    11. Mohamad Reza Soltanian & Farzad Moeini & Zhenxue Dai & Audrey H. Sawyer & Jan H. Fleckenstein & John Doherty & Zachary Curtis & Abhijit Chaudhuri & Gabriele Chiogna & Marwan Fahs & Weon Shik Han & Zai, 2024. "Sustainability Nexus AID: groundwater," Sustainability Nexus Forum, Springer, vol. 32(1), pages 1-12, December.
    12. Fuchs, Nicolas & Yanez, Guillermo & Nkongdem, Bertrand & Thomsen, Jessica, 2025. "Evaluating low-temperature heat sources for large-scale heat pump integration: A method using open-source data and indicators," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PB).
    13. Reeg, Caroline, 2017. "Spatial development initiatives – potentials, challenges and policy lessons: with a specific outlook for inclusive agrocorridors in Sub-Sahara Africa," IDOS Studies, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), volume 97, number 97, July.
    14. Mariana Reis Maria & Rosangela Ballini & Roney Fraga Souza, 2023. "Evolution of Green Finance: A Bibliometric Analysis through Complex Networks and Machine Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-23, January.
    15. Edward Kerby & Alexander Moradi & Hanjo Odendaal, 2022. "African time travellers: what can we learn from 500 years of written accounts?," Oxford Economic and Social History Working Papers _201, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    16. Christian A. Mikutta & Charlotte Pervilhac & Hansjörg Znoj & Andrea Federspiel & Thomas J. Müller, 2022. "The Impact of Foehn Wind on Mental Distress among Patients in a Swiss Psychiatric Hospital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-11, August.
    17. Hasini Gunasiri & Rebecca Patrick & Rhonda Garad & Joanne Enticott & Graham Meadows & Tristan Snell, 2024. "Coping with the Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change: A Green Script for Sustainable Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-12, January.
    18. Trinh, Trong-Anh & Appau, Samuelson & Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Farrell, Lisa, 2022. "Temperature shocks and gambling," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    19. Lanfranchi, Gabriel & Herrero, Ana Carolina & Palenzuela, Salvador Rueda & Camilloni, Inés & Bauer, Steffen, 2018. "The new urban paradigm," Economics Discussion Papers 2018-70, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    20. Grajzl, Peter & Murrell, Peter, 2021. "A machine-learning history of English caselaw and legal ideas prior to the Industrial Revolution I: generating and interpreting the estimates," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(1), pages 1-19, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53956-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.