AI's amazing healthcare breakthroughs, and more

Read to the end to see a janitor blow away the judges on AGT

Author

Tom Raftery
June 06, 2024

Hi everyone, welcome to another edition of my free fortnightly newsletter at the intersection of technology and sustainability. There’s been a lot happening in the world of tech (especially AI) and sustainability since the last edition of this newsletter, so let’s dive in, but first a little humour at the expense of the ridiculousness of medical gowns! 😀

In the News: Technology Meets Sustainability

Some of the bigger news stories from the tech and sustainability space

  •  Fossil fuel companies should be banned from advertising globally - In a major speech in New York Yesterday UN Secretary General António Guterres called fossil fuel companies “godfathers of climate chaos” and said they should be banned from advertising globally in the same way tobacco companies are. In his speech, Guterres announced new data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) showing there is an 80% chance the planet will breach 1.5C (2.7F) in warming above pre-industrial times in at least one of the next five calendar years. “I call on these companies to stop acting as enablers to planetary destruction. Stop taking on new fossil-fuel clients, from today, and set out plans to drop your existing ones. Fossil fuels are not only poisoning our planet – they’re toxic for your brand.” Link

  • Global carbon dioxide emissions may have peaked! - According to new data from BloomBergNEF, the rapid rollout of wind and solar plants (especially in China), combined with the rise of electric vehicles and heat pumps means global CO2 emissions may finally be on a downward trajectory. It won’t happen quickly but the pathway to zero appears to finally be underway. Link

  • AI to the rescue? - A team of researchers from Microsoft have come up with an AI model that can more accurately predict weather. With big storms becoming more frequent and unpredictable as a consequence of climate change, the researchers from Microsoft decided to try tackling the problem with AI. The new Aurora model was trained with the vast swathes of existing weather datasets we have collected over the last decades, and the result is more accurate operational forecasts than ever before—and at a fraction of the computational cost of traditional numerical weather-prediction systems. Link

  • AI used to predict potential new antibiotics in groundbreaking study - Scientists just published a new study in the journal Cell, detailing the use of AI to predict almost 1m new antibiotics hidden within tiny microbes all over the world, uncovering new potential treatments against bacteria and superbugs. The study authors have made this data and code freely available for anyone to access with the goal of “advancing science and benefiting humanity”. Link

  • More AI in healthcare - Two reports in the last couple of weeks showcase how AI is making huge advances in the healthcare space- In the first, we learned that a new “ultra-sensitive” blood test can detect if breast cancer will return years before the disease shows up on scans! While the second report outlines how new AI tech could be used to identify patients at risk of heart failure, allowing them to be treated earlier, thereby vastly increasing their chances.

  • All this has made AI chip manufacturer Nvidia the world’s 2nd most valuable company - Nvidia’s market value topped $3tn yesterday making the AI chip company’s value now greater than Apple’s and just behind Microsoft’s. Nvidia makes GPUs that are heavily used by AI companies, so they’re seeing a massive surge in demand for their products. The company’s value hit $2tn in February, so its rise to $3tn is nothing short of meteoric. That old line of “If you could tell your 21 year old self to do anything, it would be to buy Apple stock”, may have to be changed! Link


  • Volvo to issue the world’s first EV battery passport - The idea of battery passports is a new one. It in coming into law in the EU in 2027 and will require manufacturers to be able to account for the minerals and materials in their batteries back to the mine they were extracted from. I published an excellent episode of my supply chain podcast earlier this year on this very topic where I spoke to Circulor’s Chief External Affair’s officer Ellen Carey and we went through this in detail. Circular are the company supplying the tech to Volvo for their new EX90, the first car to ship with a battery passport. Great news for traceability and responsible sourcing. Link


  • Mexico elects its first woman president, and she’s a former climate scientist! - This sounds like excellent news, right? Mexico’s first woman president, and she’s an accomplished climate scientist who was part of a United Nations panel of climate scientists that received a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. However, things aren’t always that black and white. It turns out her mentor, outgoing president Lopez Obrador spent billions propping up fossil fuel dependent state energy companies. Shifting away from that policy could prove challenging. Watch this space… Link

Quick tidbits:

These are just a small selection of the fascinating stories I have come across in the recent weeks. I post most of the stories I come across on Threads (I’m using Twitter less and less), so if you want to see more stories like this, follow me there (if you’re not already).

Blog posts

Some of my latest writings on my blog

  • Industrial Decarbonisation: Key Strategies for a Sustainable Future - The global initiative to combat climate change has placed a high priority on industrial decarbonisation, aiming to reduce the significant contribution of industrial sectors to greenhouse gas emissions. Strategies such as smart electrification, digitalization, renewable energy integration, and effective data management are crucial in achieving this goal. Industrial decarbonization not only addresses environmental concerns but also presents economic opportunities, with potential for substantial job creation. Despite the challenges, it is a vital step towards a sustainable future, enhancing competitiveness and driving innovation. Link

Podcast Highlights

Recent episodes

  • Climate Confident

    • Unlocking Climate Solutions: The Role of Women and Nature's Rights - In this episode of the Climate Confident Podcast, I interview Osprey Orielle Lake, founder and executive director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN). We discuss the importance of women's leadership in climate action, the concept of Rights of Nature, and effective strategies like reforestation and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Osprey emphasizes the need to address systemic issues such as capitalism and patriarchy to create a sustainable future. Check it out here

    • Decarbonizing Industry: Strategies for a Greener Future - In the latest special sponsored episode of the Climate Confident Podcast, I hear from Constantin Ginet, Global Head of Energy Performance Services at Siemens, discussing the urgency of industrial decarbonization and the innovative strategies Siemens employs. We highlight the importance of digitalization, scalable solutions, and holistic approaches to achieving sustainability goals. Check it out here

  • Sustainable Supply Chain

    • Simplifying Sourcing: Fictiv’s Approach to Sustainable Manufacturing with Nate Evans - In this episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast, I chat with Nate Evans, co-founder and CXO of Fictiv, about simplifying sourcing for engineers and supply chain teams through a digitized manufacturing network. We discuss the importance of sustainability in manufacturing, highlighting the role of technology, early design decisions, and collaboration in achieving efficiency and reducing carbon footprints. Nate emphasizes the need for community and shared best practices to drive sustainability in the supply chain industry. Check it out here

    • AI, Scope 3 Emissions, and Supply Chain Sustainability: A Deep Dive - In this week’s episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast, I talk to Jarrod McAdoo from Ivalua about the challenges and advancements in sustainable procurement. We discuss the impact of technology, the importance of balancing cost-saving with sustainability goals, and the evolving global regulations influencing supply chain strategies. Jarrod highlights the significant role of AI and collaboration in achieving these objectives. Check it out here


      In coming episodes of the podcasts I will be talking to companies like Dexory about robots, SettleMint about blockchain in supply chain, Ansell about smart connected safety equipment, and more. Follow the podcasts in your podcast app of choice to ensure you don’t miss any episodes.


  • Renewables made up more than 30% of global electricity mix in 2023 - look at wind and solar go!


  • As a result of the growth of wind and solar in the last 10 years, the growth in fossil fuels has slowed.



  • It takes a lot of energy to make EVs, but charging them on the average grid they pay off that carbon debt by about 38,000km (23,750 miles). After that it is all CO2 savings. Of course, if you can charge the car using renewable electricity, then it pays the debt off far sooner.


  • If you have read in the press that demand for EVs is falling, don’t fall for it. Actual data says most EV manufacturers are having 50% or greater YoY increase in first quarter sales.

Misc stuff

This preying mantis cartoon gave me a chuckle!

Engage

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    Do please get in touch with me with your thoughts and suggestions on how I can improve the newsletter, or with any other suggestions you may have.

  • Finally, since being impacted by the tech layoffs, I'm currently on the market for a new role. If you know someone who could benefit from my tech savvy, sustainability, and strong social media expertise, I'd be grateful for a referral.

*** Be aware that any typos you find in this newsletter are tests to see who is paying attention! ***

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