Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Interview. How AI and tech can help people and protect nature
From forests in Romania to flood-prone cities, from vaccine supply chains to whale migration routes off the South African coast, connected networks are quietly becoming environmental sentinels. Sensors, IoT and AI are turning infrastructure into early-warning systems—detecting illegal logging, predicting wildfires and floods, monitoring air quality, safeguarding marine ecosystems and cutting waste in global health logistics. But beyond the pilots and case studies, what does it take to scale these solutions responsibly? How can digital infrastructure serve both commercial performance and public good—protecting nature while improving lives?
Supported by Vodafone
Moderated by
Vijay Vaitheeswaran, global energy and climate innovation editor, The Economist
Speaker
Tom Crawford, group head of sustainability and transparency, Vodafone
Interview. How AI and tech can help people and protect nature
From forests in Romania to flood-prone cities, from vaccine supply chains to whale migration routes off the South African coast, connected networks are quietly becoming environmental sentinels. Sensors, IoT and AI are turning infrastructure into early-warning systems—detecting illegal logging, predicting wildfires and floods, monitoring air quality, safeguarding marine ecosystems and cutting waste in global health logistics. But beyond the pilots and case studies, what does it take to scale these solutions responsibly? How can digital infrastructure serve both commercial performance and public good—protecting nature while improving lives?
Supported by Vodafone
Moderated by
Vijay Vaitheeswaran, global energy and climate innovation editor, The Economist
Speaker
Tom Crawford, group head of sustainability and transparency, Vodafone
