As AI develops, we are seeing in real time how it can be effectively used to help tackle the climate crisis. From tracking weather patterns to help predict natural disasters, to analysing soil data to improve farming, AI is proving to be an advantageous tool for battling climate change. But as AI seamlessly integrates with our everyday lives, scientists are warning about the damage it's doing to the planet.
In this blog, we speak to One Young World Ambassadors Rana Hajirasouli, founder of The Surpluss, and Federico Pérez, founder of Selvitas, on how they are using AI in their organisations and whether they think the positives of using it outweigh the negatives.
AI’s carbon footprint
The Times called Open AI’s ChatGPT ‘thirsty,’ citing that generating a 100-word email on the platform requires 500 ml of water and 140 Wh of energy. AI depends on powerful, energy-intensive hardware, and while newer processors are becoming more efficient, frequent upgrades and hardware replacements contribute to a significant environmental footprint.
Additionally, AI development relies on rare minerals like cobalt, lithium, and tantalum, whose extraction damages ecosystems and negatively affects local communities. “It is important for us to recognise the CO2 emissions of some of these large AI systems,” says Jesse Dodge, a research scientist at the Allen Institute for AI in Seattle.
At first glance, using AI to fight climate change might seem counterproductive, but many young entrepreneurs and environmental activists are turning to technology to make their businesses more sustainable.
“At Selvitas, AI forms the cornerstone of our nature-positive initiatives,” explains Federico Pérez, founder and CEO at Selvitas, an organisation focused on restoring and conserving nature by turning degraded landscapes into vibrant, healthy ecosystems. “We employ machine learning to analyse satellite imagery for deforestation monitoring and integrate predictive analytics to optimise reforestation strategies… so we can maximise survival rates for newly planted trees.”
How can AI help build a low-carbon economy?
A report from McKinsey shows that AI-driven technologies can help businesses reduce their CO2 emissions by up to 10% and cut energy costs by up to 20%.
“AI can unlock transformative changes across multiple sectors, helping society transition to a low-carbon economy,” explains Federico. “By providing granular insights into system inefficiencies, AI can guide policy, corporate strategy, and grassroots initiatives toward more sustainable outcomes, offering a roadmap for rapid decarbonisation on a local and global scale.”
Rana Hajirasouli is the founder of The Surpluss, a climate tech startup reducing waste by allowing businesses to exchange their underused resources. Despite using AI in her organisation, she is acutely aware of its impact on the environment. “We integrate AI into daily tasks, but the impact it has on the environment is always at the back of our minds,” Rana explains. “While we see it substantively assisting companies with enhancing optimisation in general, its application does consume large amounts of energy and materials at an industrial scale.”
Rana believes that more regulation is needed for AI to aid in a low-carbon economy. “[AI’s] role in a low-carbon economy must be deliberate, regulated, and interventionist, not just reaching for efficiency.”
Regulating AI’s Climate Impact
Regulation is currently fragmented and lagging. The 2024 EU AI Act sorts AI by risk level and requires transparency, but it doesn’t set rules on carbon emissions or energy use. In the US, companies choose whether to share information about their AI use, and while the UN has suggested guidelines for AI, they aren’t legally enforced.
“There’s a huge gap in enforceable policy,” says Rana. “We need mandatory emissions reporting, energy efficiency standards, and hardware circularity incentives.”
Federico advocates a more market-friendly route: “Carbon pricing on energy-intensive tasks or mandating renewable-powered data centres could balance innovation with climate responsibility.”
Do the good uses of AI outweigh the negatives?
When it comes to using AI to tackle the climate crisis, can the planetary wins outweigh the negative impacts?
Rana sees it as a nuanced equation: “AI has powered breakthroughs like Google’s DeepMind, reducing data centre cooling by 40%, or Siemens’ vision AI that improves HVAC efficiency by the same margin. But the costs, emissions, e-waste and water usage are growing.”
Federico agrees but believes that AI’s social value can outweigh its footprint if kept in check. “AI’s energy consumption could hit 21% of global electricity by 2030 if unregulated,” he warns. “But if paired with clean energy and efficiency-focused algorithms, it can help humanity more than harm it.”
The future of AI and the climate crisis
As AI develops and becomes more integrated into our everyday lives, what does the future hold for using it to tackle the climate crisis?
“Sustainable change hinges on robust policy frameworks, grassroots advocacy, and the widespread adoption of circular economic principles,” says Federico. “By merging these elements with ever-advancing AI tools, society can move closer to a future where climate objectives and global development goals reinforce each other rather than collide.”