Robots have both positive and negative consequences on environment. They contribute to environmental pollution through e-waste, which is a major cause of contamination . At the end of their useful life, electronic components used in robotics become e-waste adding to the ever-growing volume of global electronic waste. Worth noting is that in 2021, the world produced 53.6million metric tones of e-waste projected to rise to 74.7 million metric tons by 2030. This worrisome increase highlights the need for immediate and effective actions to avoid irreversible ecological damage

Alternatively, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is turning out as an important tool towards dealing with climate change. Some examples include enhancing weather forecasts using AI systems, measuring carbon emissions and other GHGs, and showing effects of extreme weather events like tropical storms through computer modeling.

In summary, AI presents a range of creative ways to lessen the effects of climate change, while the problem of robotics-related e-waste highlights a serious environmental concern. The two-edged character of technology reminds us to use AI's promise to create a more resilient, greener future while also emphasizing the necessity for sustainable practices in the creation and disposal of electronic gadgets.

"Let's honor our ancestors by using technology to enhance our lives, not consume them. They thrived without gadgets; we can too." - Unknown"

I think the question is wrongly asked. Robots do not pollute the environment, they are only machines such as cars or ticket and drink vending machines. The person decides where and what type of device to place.

The second part of the question is similar. "Artificial intelligence" is tackling climate change. People can use it for these purposes. But it should be noted that we should use it to adapt to nature, not to fight it.

Yes, in general, the perception is that robots contribute to environmental pollution. However, this pollution can be direct and mostly indirect, as robots require power, which often comes from power stations (including the robotic body; each of its parts was created through environmental pollution, such as from the metal arms to the processor and others ). These power stations must reduce SO2 and CO2 emissions into the air maybe in few case SO2 and CO2 emissions are controlled. Yet, if the same work were done by humans, a similar situation would arise. Humans need food to survive, and a huge quantity of food is processed in factories, leading to pollution. (This example is not intended to criticize either robot research or human.) However, robots can perform tasks more efficiently and in a measured or controlled way. They can calculate factors such as the time needed, energy consumption, and output data. With this information, we can predict the environmental impact and implement strategies to mitigate damage and conserve the environment. In recent times, there has been research (IoT and machine/deep learning based) into home care robots. If a robotic system can be designed for home care, the same concept can be applied to the environment. Robots could plant tree, clean polluted areas or investigate radiation zones. If technology becomes more advanced in the future, it may also be capable of cleaning radiation-contaminated areas. In this case, AI will be use to tackle climate change with multiple approaches.

Maybe you also can looks some article and online opinions,

*) https://robotsdoneright.com/Articles/how-robots-are-good-for-the-environment.html

*) Are Robots Bad for The Environment? Full Analysis. https://provenrobotics.ai/are-robots-bad-for-the-environment/

*) Impact of industrial robots on environmental pollution: evidence from China. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-47380-6

*) Friendly human-machine interaction on home care robot. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8336099

*) IoT Driven Ambient Intelligence Architecture for Indoor Intelligent Mobility. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8511933

Dr Sunitha Muchinthala, Dr Janusz Bobulski and Dr Md Foysal Ahmed thank you for your contribution to the discussion