Alphabet’s Google has launched a new Asia-Pacific accelerator programme focused on using artificial intelligence (AI) to support climate and environmental projects, as technology companies increasingly seek to position AI as a tool for tackling global sustainability challenges despite concerns over the technology’s own growing energy footprint.
The three-month programme, called “AI for the Planet”, will support startups, research groups and non-profit organisations across Asia Pacific working on areas including climate, agriculture, energy, nature and broader environmental risks, Google said.
The initiative comes as technology firms race to demonstrate practical uses of AI beyond workplace productivity gains and software development, with increasing focus on applications ranging from renewable energy forecasting and transport efficiency to climate adaptation and food security.
“Today, the global conversation … has shifted fundamentally. It’s shifted from no longer being about where AI can scale. It’s more about how we can intentionally use this technology to solve some of the most urgent challenges that we have, many different challenges, including climate change,” Ben King, Google’s country managing director for Singapore and Malaysia, said at the Ecosperity conference in Singapore last week.
The Asia Pacific focus reflects the region’s dual role as both an economic growth engine and one of the areas most exposed to climate-related risks. Countries across the region face mounting threats from extreme weather, flooding and disruptions to food and energy systems while simultaneously attempting to expand digital infrastructure and accelerate decarbonisation efforts.
Google said environmental technologies in the region were advancing but were not scaling quickly enough to keep pace with rising risks.
The launch also comes as the technology sector faces increasing scrutiny over the environmental impact of AI itself. The International Energy Agency said global electricity consumption from data centres is projected to more than double by 2030 to around 945 terawatt-hours, driven largely by AI expansion. Southeast Asia is also expected to see rapid growth in electricity demand linked partly to data centres as governments and companies expand digital infrastructure.
Major technology firms including Google, Microsoft and others have increasingly promoted AI’s role in reducing emissions and improving efficiency in sectors such as energy systems, transport and agriculture. But researchers and policymakers continue debating whether the technology’s growing energy requirements could offset some of those gains.
King said Google remained optimistic that AI’s benefits could outweigh the risks.
“We see it in unlocking immense real-world opportunities in areas like carbon mitigation, energy transformation, and also climate adaptation,” he said.
He pointed to examples including Google DeepMind’s predictive models for wind and solar generation, traffic optimisation efforts through Project Greenlight and agricultural mapping tools designed to help farmers improve decision-making.
“We’re seeing this work take shape today. It’s not just a forward view, it’s happening in real time,” King added.
Unlike early-stage startup programmes, the AI for the Planet accelerator is intended for organisations already developing climate or environmental solutions. Selected participants will receive mentorship and support from Google AI and Google DeepMind experts, including assistance integrating advanced AI and scientific models into existing products and projects.
The first cohort will begin with an in-person bootcamp in Singapore.
Google is currently collecting expressions of interest rather than launching a formal application process, with further details on eligibility requirements, cohort size and selection timelines expected later.
“The greatest impact doesn’t stop at developing technology,” King said. “The second part of the equation also lies in our ability to enable others to bring their own skill sets, their own engineering, their own creativity to solve some of these problems.”
“Realising the maximum potential for AI requires deep and close collaboration,” he added.
