Understanding the Environmental Impact of Artificial Intelligence

While artificial intelligence (AI) may solve certain sustainability issues in the future, the technology’s environmental footprint is already a topic of much discussion today. To help society bridge the gap between what’s possible and what’s occurring, you'll need to be informed.

Mike Weinstein, director of sustainability at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), holds a PhD in Environmental Studies and Sustainability and focused his doctoral research on the intersection between technology and environmentalism. “I’ve had a long-standing interest in the interactions between our natural environment and IT, both in how technology impacts the environment, and how we use technology to learn about and protect the environment,” said Weinstein.

He explained the broader picture of how the AI boom is affecting the Earth and its resources, as well as AI's potential to bring about positive change.

How is AI Impacting the Environment?

Electricity consumption is at the heart of AI’s environmental impact, Weinstein said. He noted that the amount of energy used by AI data centers increases carbon emissions, and water depletion is another major concern.

What is AI’s Carbon Footprint?

AI has a large and complex carbon footprint, according to Weinstein. He said a great deal of energy is consumed by AI data centers, and greenhouse gases are created as a result.

“AI data centers are currently located in areas with grids predominantly powered by fossil fuels, meaning coal- and gas-fired power plants,” Weinstein said, citing MIT Technology Review. “These are fuel sources that contribute to global climate change by releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when they are burned.”

Greenhouse gases raise the Earth’s temperature and lead to biodiversity loss and increasing extreme weather events, said Weinstein. He noted that these emissions also pollute the air, which can lead to poor health outcomes for surrounding communities, like asthma and heart disease.

And looking at carbon emissions from AI solely in terms of the 'use phase' misses a larger picture, Weinstein said — without ever being turned on, a server's lifecycle still results in significant carbon emissions.

“If all of our electricity supply was clean and renewable, like that provided by solar or wind power, we could look at the other impacts of AI in a different context,” said Weinstein. “But unfortunately, we as a planet are tremendously behind in transitioning to a clean, non-carbon energy grid.”

Read more: What is Environmental Sustainability?

Does AI Really Use That Much Water?

AI data centers are causing concerning levels of water depletion in certain areas —including the Great Lakes, according to Futurism, a news site focused on science and tech.

“Data centers use lots of water to absorb the heat generated by computation,” Weinstein said. “What this often means is that a large volume of freshwater from the surrounding environment is diverted to the data center and away from other uses, like drinking water.”

AI data centers are increasing water scarcity, Bloomberg reports, and more than half of the data centers developed since 2022 are in areas where demand for water already exceeds available supply. Because coal and gas plants also require large amounts of freshwater for cooling, Weinstein said the electricity used by each data center contributes to even more water depletion.

“In a world where freshwater shortages are only going to continue, we’ll need to be much more creative with how we are powering and cooling our global IT infrastructure,” he said.

Other Environmental Impacts

Resource mining is another concern associated with AI. Take copper, for example. Business Insider noted that AI will almost double the demand for copper — a metal that is already facing shortages across the globe.

“We need hardware to use AI,” Weinstein said. “These are made of things like metals that must be mined and refined and plastics that have to be fractionally distilled from crude oil.”

AI data centers generate electronic waste, which can contain toxic substances like mercury and lead, the United Nations reports. Data centers also create an increased risk of fires, Futurism said.

Can You Use AI Without Hurting the Environment?

Using AI always impacts the environment to some extent, so Weinstein recommends being mindful and intentional with your usage to minimize harm.

“The easiest thing to do is to ask yourself what you are using an AI tool for at any given time. Is it necessary, or just expedient? Is the work you are producing valuable or useful?” Weinstein said. “Just as with any energy-consuming technology — like cars or air conditioners or cell phones — we need to be mindful of how we’re using it.”

Dr. Robert MacAuslan is a vice president of artificial intelligence at SNHU who leads strategic planning and integration of AI throughout the university. He echoed Weinstein's sentiments, recommending that AI tools be used judiciously and with their impacts in mind.

“What I want people to be aware of when they're using these tools is that this is not free of cost environmentally,” MacAuslan said.

Making Zoom calls, streaming on Netflix and riding in airplanes have their own effects on the environment, too. But the exponential pace of AI’s growth is leading to especially dramatic impacts, according to the United Nations, spurring calls for more procedures surrounding measuring, disclosing and reducing AI’s environmental consequences. Weinstein agreed with these calls.

“Organizations must incorporate ethical governance into their AI strategies from the beginning,” he said. “This means considering worker input and oversight of how AI is used in the organization, and what AI tools and vendors align with the organization’s values.”

Weinstein said individuals and organizations can also work to make a broader impact.

“It’s really up to us — the people within our organizations — to make demands of the AI companies and put our money where we think it serves our communities best,” he said.

Can AI Help the Environment?

AI has the potential to help address various environmental problems through solutions that have yet to be discovered, according to Weinstein. “There is some idea that this type of computing advancement will help us design novel solutions for things like more efficient power generation and storage, optimized product design and transportation and so forth,” he said. “Of course, the technology has to be put to this use.”

Ultimately, AI can only make positive changes for the environment when people work to harness it for that purpose. “That requires people and institutions both interested in achieving these solutions and trained in ethical AI principles,” Weinstein said.

If you want to make a difference, you could consider studying environmental science and/or learning about AI. SNHU’s Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program offers a Generative AI concentration that can be applied to many other programs. Courses within this concentration focus on AI policy and governance, preparing students to lead with ethics at the forefront.

“My greatest hope is that we can use this technology to actually improve our lives,” Weinstein said, “not just to figure out how to sell more products or make business more efficient, but to fundamentally reimagine a sustainable economy and society.”

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.