Six environmental sustainability trends for 2025 and beyond
1. Digitizing the grid Artificial intelligence (AI) has potential to drive positive change in society, but it will require a rethink of networks and cleaner, more resilient and reliable energy sources. If we anticipate these challenges now, we can build the right infrastructure to support this future. That’s how we can balance the demands of a rapidly digitizing, AI-integrated society with having a livable planet. Digitizing the grid is essential to meet the growing energy demand and enhance energy security. The U.S. Department of Energy, for example, estimates that much of the country’s electric grid was built in the 1960s and 1970s, and 70 percent of transmission lines are more than 25 years old. The integration of AI could transform how energy is managed and distributed, creating more efficient and reliable systems. At Cisco we believe we must design and future-proof energy grids, buildings, networks, data centers and technology for whatever energy requirements are around the corner...