  Among the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed within the
2030 Agenda and adopted by all the United Nations member states, the 13$^{th}$
SDG is a call for action to combat climate change for a better world. In this
work, we provide an overview of areas in which audio intelligence -- a powerful
but in this context so far hardly considered technology -- can contribute to
overcome climate-related challenges. We categorise potential computer audition
applications according to the five elements of earth, water, air, fire, and
aether, proposed by the ancient Greeks in their five element theory; this
categorisation serves as a framework to discuss computer audition in relation
to different ecological aspects. Earth and water are concerned with the early
detection of environmental changes and, thus, with the protection of humans and
animals, as well as the monitoring of land and aquatic organisms. Aerial audio
is used to monitor and obtain information about bird and insect populations.
Furthermore, acoustic measures can deliver relevant information for the
monitoring and forecasting of weather and other meteorological phenomena. The
fourth considered element is fire. Due to the burning of fossil fuels, the
resulting increase in CO$_2$ emissions and the associated rise in temperature,
fire is used as a symbol for man-made climate change and in this context
includes the monitoring of noise pollution, machines, as well as the early
detection of wildfires. In all these areas, computer audition can help
counteract climate change. Aether then corresponds to the technology itself
that makes this possible. This work explores these areas and discusses
potential applications, while positioning computer audition in relation to
methodological alternatives.
