The biggest coalition, which brings together over 100 partners, including 37 companies, 11 nations, and 5 international organizations, has been launched to ensure the safe and sustainable development of artificial intelligence (AI) that doesn’t harm the environment.
Led by France, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Coalition for Environmentally Sustainable AI strives to mitigate AI’s ecological footprint while leveraging its capabilities to address global environmental challenges.
Introduced at the AI Action Summit in Paris, the initiative unites big players across the AI ecosystem, including Heads of State, corporate leaders, Academics, artists, and civil society representatives to promote sustainable AI operations.
AI has proven instrumental in tackling climate crises, from tracking methane emissions to analyzing illegal deforestation. However, the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure like data centers, training models, and electronic waste, poses severe environmental risks. AI systems consume vast amounts of energy and water, which raises concerns about their sustainability.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shows the urgency of action, “We know that AI can be a force for climate action and energy efficiency. But we also know AI power-intensive systems are already placing an unsustainable strain on our planet.So, it is crucial to design AI algorithms and infrastructures that consume less energy and integrate AI into smart grids to optimize power use.”
“The power of AI to solve complex global challenges is becoming ever clearer, but so too are its environmental impacts and the need for environmental guardrails to ensure the field grows sustainably,” Golestan (Sally) Radwan, Chief Digital Officer for UNEP said. “The new Coalition brings together critical stakeholders who have the power to work together and build systems that ensure the net effect of AI on the planet is positive as the technology continues to deploy rapidly.”
Source: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/new-coalition-aims-put-artificial-intelligence-more-sustainable-path
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