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Nature: The most important infrastructure on Earth

What if nature were managed with the same care and attention as the infrastructure we build? A visit to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) revealed why the future of resilience depends on understanding the connections between climate, technology and the ecosystems that sustain us. 

Author: Eva Riesenhuber, Executive Vice President & Global Head of Sustainability of Siemens

Nature is all around us. It regulates our climate, protects coastlines, supports food production and underpins economic activity around the world. It is the foundation on which every business, economy and society depends. Yet we rarely think of nature as infrastructure, let alone manage it that way. 

Natural systems are under growing pressure. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment, around two-thirds of the world’s marine environment has already been significantly altered by human activity. Climate change, pollution and unsustainable development continue to put ecosystems and the communities that depend on them at risk. 

Eva in Australia - Diving and AIMS
Around the world, an estimated 500 million to 1 billion people depend on coral reefs for coastal protection, food security, tourism and livelihoods.
Eva Riesenhuber
Eva Riesenhuber diving in Australia

A study in natural infrastructure 

Few places illustrate both the value and vulnerability of this natural infrastructure like Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Contributing around AUD 9 billion (approximately EUR 5.6 billion) to Australia’s economy annually and supporting more than 77,000 jobs, this reef is a powerful example of how closely environmental and economic resilience are connected. 

Australia has become a very personal place for me, and every visit reminds me how closely people, communities and nature are connected here. On my most recent trip end of last year, I revisited the Great Barrier Reef for the first time in 20 years and spent time at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). Experiencing the reef firsthand reinforced its extraordinary beauty, the pressure it is under and the importance of protecting it for future generations. That made my visit to AIMS –  where technology is helping researchers to better understand how the Great Barrier Reef may respond to future climate conditions – especially meaningful. 

At AIMS' National Sea Simulator (SeaSim), our SIMATIC PCS 7 process automation system enables researchers to precisely control conditions such as ocean temperature, acidity, salinity and water chemistry across complex, long-running experiments. This precision allows scientists to simulate future ocean conditions, study coral resilience and reproduction and develop new approaches to reef restoration. This generates insights that can help strengthen reef resilience in the years to come. 

Our collaboration with Siemens is helping take our world-leading research even further. Using Siemens technology to recreate reef-like conditions at SeaSim, we can better understand how climate change may affect corals in the future and generate knowledge to help protect these critical ecosystems for generations to come.
Craig Humphrey, Director National Sea Simulator , Australian Institute of Marine Science

Bringing the real and digital worlds together 

For the first time, we have the technology and the data to better understand these complex connections. Digitalization, automation and AI are expanding our ability to translate complex data into actionable insights. Our collaboration with AIMS demonstrates how science, technology and industry can work together to strengthen resilience in critical natural infrastructure such as the Great Barrier Reef.  

Climate and biodiversity are part of the same system. Every gain in energy efficiency, every step towards electrification and every resource kept in circulation helps reduce pressure on natural systems. 

The future will depend not only on the infrastructure we build, but also on the natural infrastructure we protect and restore. For businesses, that means recognizing that climate and nature are deeply interdependent and using technology to address them together. At Siemens, we see an opportunity to bring the real and digital worlds together to help build resilience across our economies and the natural systems they depend on. 

Roundtable discussion: Great Barrier Reef

Watch the roundtable discussion which explores how science, technology and leadership can help systems adapt and thrive