Environmental organisations worldwide are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse climate data, monitor wildfires and track endangered wildlife, despite concerns over the technology’s environmental footprint. Conservation International, for example, is using AI to assess satellite-detected hotspots and send real-time wildfire alerts to forest patrols in Cambodia. A Reuters survey of 15 major environmental, conservation and development organisations found that all were using AI in some form, while expressing concern about the electricity consumption, water use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with data centres. The issue is expected to feature prominently at the UN COP31 climate conference in Turkey, where a pledge on sustainable AI development is due to be promoted.
