“Organizations Call for Urgent Action to Address AI’s Environmental Impact” | TechCrunch

A coalition of over 100 organizations has issued an open letter urging the AI industry and regulators to address the environmental challenges linked to AI technology. This call comes just before a significant AI conference in Paris, where leaders from various sectors will gather.

Notable advocacy groups, including Amnesty International and the AI Now Institute, signed the letter. It highlights rising concerns about AI systems increasing emissions, relying on non-renewable energy sources, and depleting essential resources. Despite these issues, the tech sector and governments continue to push for more AI development without adequate solutions, according to the letter.

The letter emphasizes that “AI can never be a ‘climate solution’ if it runs on fossil fuels.” The organizations demand that AI systems align with environmental goals and that data center infrastructure be switched to renewable energy sources. The rapid expansion of AI has placed significant stress on electric grids, leading some utilities to turn to coal and other harmful energy sources for backup power.

Electricity demands from data centers are projected to double by 2026, potentially exceeding 1,000 terawatts, which is comparable to Japan’s total annual electricity usage. This surge is straining power infrastructures in many regions and intensifying reliance on fossil fuels, which contribute to pollution and health risks.

The letter also calls for stricter regulations to prevent new data centers from using excessive water and land resources and for companies to be transparent about the environmental footprint of AI throughout its development and use.

Data centers can cover vast areas and consume significant amounts of water for cooling and humidity control. A recent estimate suggested that if just 10% of the U.S. population asked ChatGPT to draft an email weekly, it would require over 435 million liters of water.

The signers argue that their demands are the “bare minimum” to counter the risks posed by unchecked AI growth. They stress that communities most vulnerable to climate change face the worst impacts from AI’s resource demands and often lack a voice in its development. The focus should shift from seeing technological progress as purely beneficial to fostering AI practices that benefit society while reducing environmental harm.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., the government has indicated a preference for rapid growth, even at the cost of environmental concerns. Former President Donald Trump announced plans to use an energy emergency declaration to expedite approvals for power stations for AI data centers, including those using coal. He also pledged to accelerate permits for any company investing over $1 billion in the U.S.

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