Uruguay to add AI to environmental controls and seeks a new environmental-crimes law
Key takeaways
- In an interview with Montevideo Portal, Ortu o explained that the ministry seeks to strengthen the incorporation of technology to improve the capacity for inspection, control and management of environmental procedures.
- The minister said the year's fundamental objective is to introduce a new environmental-crimes law.
- Ortu o also referred to the ministry's main projects.
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Uruguay's Environment Minister, Edgardo Ortu o, said the ministry will incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into environmental controls and push for a new environmental-crimes law, among the priorities he outlined ahead of the budget review (Rendici n de Cuentas) that the Executive will present to Parliament on June 30.
In an interview with Montevideo Portal, Ortu o explained that the ministry seeks to strengthen the incorporation of technology to improve the capacity for inspection, control and management of environmental procedures. We are planning, for this year, the digitalization of six procedures that will be able to be carried out 100% online and the incorporation of artificial intelligence at the service of controls and the management of procedures, he said. He added that an agreement with the University of the Republic (Udelar) —the faculties of Engineering, Social Sciences and Information and Communication— was ready to be signed, to obtain scientific and technical support. The minister framed those plans within a budget process in which the government prioritizes security and social areas, such as early childhood and homeless people.
The minister said the year's fundamental objective is to introduce a new environmental-crimes law. In his view, the increase in administrative sanctions set by the recent fines decree must be complemented by the incorporation into the Penal Code of a chapter on environmental crimes.