Search Climate Insights Directory

The document argues that AI has entered its '1911 Moment,' shifting from experimental curiosity to real-world military and diplomatic application. It defines the spectrum of AI capabilities from Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) to theoretical Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) and details current deployments of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) and AI-driven decision support in conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and elsewhere. The authors contrast the 'normal technology' view of AI with the 'exceptional technology' view, noting that the choice between these frameworks dictates whether policy should focus on governing deployment or controlling the models themselves. Finally, it highlights the use of 'compute diplomacy' and AI chip export controls as modern instruments of economic statecraft.

The Clean Electricity Performance Program (CEPP) uses a system of grants and payments to incentivize retail electricity suppliers to increase their share of clean electricity by 4 percentage points annually from 2023 to 2030. Suppliers meeting this goal receive Department of Energy grants, while those falling short must make payments. Clean electricity is defined as any source emitting no more than 0.10 metric tons of CO2-equivalent per MWh, encompassing renewables, nuclear, and carbon-captured fossil fuels. The program includes flexibility for suppliers to average performance over two or three years and provides exemptions from payments for suppliers with a clean electricity share of 85% or higher, provided there is no backsliding.

The document argues that carbon removal is necessary to meet Paris Agreement temperature targets, as emissions reductions alone are insufficient. It advocates for a portfolio-based approach to carbon removal technologies to manage uncertainty and risks, emphasizing the need for effective governance and safeguards to prevent the displacement of food production or ecosystem loss.