How AI could have protected Lillith from Climate Change
“I thought climate change was just hotter days, something far away. But now… I have no home. The flood took everything,” says Lilith, a 22-year-old Gen-Z student from Yerevan, Armenia.
Lilith’s story is all too common. Like countless others in Armenia, she faced the reality-check of losing her home after a severe flash flood ravaged Lori region. Due to the floods, Lilith is now living at her friend’s house, while her family moved to a village – all of this because of climate change.
But what makes Lilith’s story unique is her will to make a change.
Today, Lilith is here to talk about something unexpected, AI’s role in preventing climate change. “I never thought I’d be talking about technology in this way,” she admits. “But if AI can save lives, if it can predict storms and help communities prepare… then why aren’t we using it more? Why can’t we stop the next flood?”
Growing up in Armenia, Lilith has seen firsthand how the climate crisis hits harder in places often overlooked. Armenia’s 2020 Climate Report (NC4) showed the average temperature increased by 1.23°C from 1929 to 2016, but it’s not just numbers anymore. From droughts devastating rural villages to unpredictable storms, it’s daily life. In September 2024, Yerevan was transformed by heavy floods, turning the historic city into an unexpected waterfront.
Now living at her best friend’s house, Lilith spends hours thinking: can AI really help, or is it just lining the pockets of tech giants while we wait for real change? She’s not blindly optimistic.
AI has already started to help in ways many don’t realize. “They say AI can track icebergs, map deforestation, and even help predict floods like the one that destroyed my home,” Lilith adds, still uncertain.
In fact, The World Economic Forum points out how AI is already improving agriculture and reducing environmental impact, and AI systems are tracking pollution, predicting disasters, and even helping clean up our oceans.
Yet she’s painfully aware of the dark side. AI itself uses massive amounts of energy, and the same technology that could save the planet could also make things worse. According to the International Energy Agency, AI data centers could double their energy use in just two years. “It’s frustrating. It’s like, the very thing that could help us is also part of the problem,” Lilith says with a sigh.
But even with all her doubts, Lilith isn’t giving up. “I don’t know if AI is the answer. But I do know we need every bit of help we can get. If AI can even prevent one more family from losing their home, it’s worth trying.”
Lilith’s story is a mix of pain and resilience. She’s lost so much, but she’s not done fighting. “AI might not be perfect, but waiting for a perfect solution won’t save us. We’ve got to use what we have now because time’s running out.”