Taking the pulse of the planet

Tomas Lamanauskas addresses AI’s dual role in climate change: Problem or solution?

In a compelling discourse, Tomas Lamanauskas confronted the dire reality of climate change, highlighting the consecutive months of record-breaking global temperatures and the resultant environmental disasters. He depicted a world grappling with extreme weather events, such as super cyclones, wildfires, droughts, and floods, which have a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable populations and small island nations.

Lamanauskas raised a critical question regarding the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the climate crisis: Is AI a contributing factor to the problem, or can it be part of the solution? He pointed to the substantial energy consumption and carbon emissions of AI technologies and data centres, which have experienced a significant increase in electricity use and emissions. Projections from the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggest that data centres’ energy consumption could soon double, exceeding Japan’s current energy usage. Moreover, emissions from data centres have risen by 45% in 2022 compared to two years prior.

The address underscored the urgent need for the AI sector to act decisively to reduce its environmental footprint. Lamanauskas highlighted the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) standard, which advocates for a 45% reduction in tech-related emissions by 2030, as a necessary step towards net-zero emissions by 2050. He also shed light on the resource-intensive nature of AI, which fuels competition for energy, rare minerals, and microprocessor chips.

Despite these challenges, Lamanauskas emphasised AI’s potential to drive positive environmental change. AI can monitor and analyse subtle ecosystem shifts, support conservation efforts, and improve energy efficiency, thereby reducing waste and emissions in various industries. Research indicates that AI could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 10% by 2030, matching the European Union’s annual emissions.

Lamanauskas commended the technology sector’s adoption of renewable energy, which has kept tech-related emissions stable amidst the rise of AI. He praised the ITU for developing standards to combat tech-related emissions and electronic waste, and the industry’s commitment to environmental responsibility, as demonstrated by the Green Digital Action track initiated at COP28. This project has garnered support from over 40 partners, including governments, businesses, and civil society, to prioritise digital solutions in climate action.

Lamanauskas called for enhanced data collection to facilitate the greening of the digital economy, with ITU and its partners ensuring that emissions from digital products and services are accurately measured and reported. He encouraged the global tech industry to adopt technical standards that benefit both the environment and business and to support the Green Digital Action initiative.

Concluding on an optimistic note, Lamanauskas expressed his belief that AI can significantly contribute to addressing the climate crisis. However, he stressed the necessity for concerted and collaborative efforts to ensure that AI serves the greater good. His message was clear: the global community must unite to ensure that AI aids in the preservation of our planet rather than contributing to its deterioration.

Tomas Lamanauskas:
Our planet is on fire and flooded by water. Every month breaks new records. The wrong kind of records. April 2024 was the 11th month in a row with record high global temperatures. Actually the month was 1.58 degrees Celsius warmer than the estimated April average before global industrialization. The consequences include super cyclones, forest fires, a severe drought in the Amazon rainforest and severe floods from Afghanistan to Kenya. Among the most vulnerable communities are the ones hit hardest. Rising levels put small island developing states in severe peril. When it comes to the climate crisis, is AI part of the problem or will it help us find a solution? Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Actually I was debating whether to say good afternoon at this moment after all this introduction. But here we go. So for now, our AI use makes a large and growing carbon footprint. These technologies are hungry for electricity. More than they can get from a renewable power supply. The International Energy Agency or IEA tells us that two years from now, data centers could consume twice as much energy as Japan does today. According to a study by ITU and the World Bank, in the two years up to 2022, electricity use for data centers increased by 57%. Emissions from data centers are skyrocketing. They accounted for 32 million tons of emissions in 2022, up 45% from two years earlier. We as AI developers and users need to bring this under control. To limit global warming, we must cut tech-related emissions to net zero by 2050, rather than unleash exponential emissions growth. The necessary path is actually captured in a key ITU standard, and it says that we need to start with a crucial 45% cut between 2020 and 2030. AI is thirsty too. Researchers found that 10 pumps can consume as much as half a liter of water. And then there is also a risk of intensifying resource competition, as competing AI hubs scramble for energy supplies, rare minerals, and scarce microprocessor chips. Well, AI can also bolster ecosystems and help protect biodiversity. For example, AI technologies can detect and analyze subtle ecosystem changes and help plan conservation efforts. AI solutions boost energy efficiency and cut waste and emissions across other sectors. Recent research actually suggests that AI can help mitigate between 5 and 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, equivalent to the total annual emissions of the European Union. The potential for AI-based climate solutions is crystal clear, but it won’t be realized until we tackle the risks to our planet presented by rapid AI growth head-on. The good news is that digital companies are leaders in renewable energy uptake, accounting for 60% of global purchases by 2021. This has helped keep tech-related emissions constant despite the surge of generative AI. ITU standards have also helped address tech-related emissions and e-waste for several years. We have standards helping big data and AI support smart energy control for telecom sites and data centers, especially by prioritizing renewable and low-carbon power sources. Our green standards package is expanding to ensure we rein in our industry energy and carbon footprint. Importantly, the tech industry recognizes its responsibility as well. Green Digital Action track that we launched at the last climate conference, COP28. Green Digital Action in that track mobilized over 40 partners including governments, businesses and civil society, as well as UN agencies and international development banks. Through Green Digital Action, we aim to put digital solutions at the forefront of climate action. Partners have also committed to report their climate data, a crucial step to get tech on the right side of history. We need far better data to green the digital economy. ITU and partners are working to ensure that the emissions of digital products and services are measured and reported. Similarly, ITU and our World Standards Cooperation partners have pledged to deliver technical standards that make both business and environment sense. We are encouraging the entire global tech industry to get on board. Encourage all of you to support Green Digital Action and make AI part of the solution. So ladies and gentlemen, I’m confident AI will help us respond to the climate crisis. But we need to work hard to make that happen. It is a vital aspect of using AI for good and an urgent challenge for humanity today. Let’s work together to make sure that AI helps us save our planet, not sink it further. Thank you very much.