Over 100 organizations have released an open letter urging the AI sector and regulatory bodies to address the detrimental environmental effects of technology. This plea comes just days ahead of a significant AI conference in Paris, attended by top industry executives, state leaders, scholars, and nonprofit representatives.
The letter, signed by notable advocacy organizations like Amnesty International and the AI Now Institute, highlights “growing evidence” that AI systems are increasing carbon emissions, creating dependencies on non-renewable resources, and depleting essential supplies. Despite this, it notes a lack of action to counter these harmful consequences as both the tech industry and government officials continue to justify increased AI investments.
“AI cannot be considered a ‘climate solution’ if it operates on fossil fuels,” states the letter. “We, the signers, demand that AI systems adhere to our planet’s ecological limits.”
The signatories present specific requests, advocating for AI infrastructures, particularly data centers, to be entirely free from fossil fuels. The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has pushed power grids to their limits, compelling some utilities to resort to coal and other environmentally unfriendly energy sources, as highlighted in the letter.
“Electricity usage by global data centers could rise to over 1,000 terawatts by 2026—comparable to Japan’s annual energy consumption,” the letter states, referencing data from the International Energy Agency. “In certain regions, the surge in demand is straining energy infrastructure, extending our reliance on fossil fuels, which contribute to public health challenges.”
Moreover, the letter calls on corporations and governmental bodies to ensure that new data centers do not drain water and land resources and to provide transparency regarding the environmental impact of AI throughout its “entire lifecycle.”
Typically, data centers, which can cover vast areas, consume substantial amounts of water for cooling the internal chips and maintaining optimal humidity levels for electronic hardware. One assessment suggests that if 10% of the U.S. population requested email assistance from OpenAI’s ChatGPT weekly, it could lead to a usage of over 435 million liters of water.
The signers of the letter emphasize that their requests represent the absolute minimum necessary to reduce the ongoing damage caused by unchecked AI growth.
“The nations and communities most susceptible to rapid climate change are the first to face the adverse effects of AI and its computational needs, and they wield less influence over its development,” the letter continues. “We must move beyond the perception that technological advancement is inherently positive or boundless, and instead focus on AI practices that contribute significantly to society while minimizing harm to both the environment and humanity.”
Regrettably for the signatories, the U.S., home to the majority of major AI companies, has indicated a willingness to prioritize growth at any expense.
Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to utilize an energy emergency declaration to expedite the approval of new power plants for AI data centers, including those running on coal as backup. Additionally, Trump has promised to streamline environmental permits for any company investing $1 billion or more domestically.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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