UN Issues Stern Warning, World in Great Danger
The impact of developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is being felt increasingly across various sectors. While this technology can bring benefits to economic growth by boosting productivity and efficiency, there is a high price to pay.
Workforce groups are shadowed by fears that their roles will be replaced by AI. Indeed, waves of layoffs are becoming more frequent, often linked to the adoption of AI. Furthermore, cyberattacks and online fraud are intensifying due to the ease provided by AI technology. This is compounded by the spread of disinformation and deepfakes, which damage the digital space and create social polarisation.
Another impact that cannot be taken lightly is environmental degradation. The infrastructure for data centres required to run AI demands massive amounts of electricity and water. Additionally, the land use and construction of such infrastructure often encroach upon green spaces.
In response, the United Nations has called upon large companies developing AI to increase transparency regarding the environmental impacts arising from data centre construction. The UN is also demanding transparency concerning the use of renewable energy in these developments, as reported by Reuters.
The rapid global expansion of data centres to drive the AI revolution has drawn criticism from environmental groups due to high energy and water usage, as well as a lack of transparency.
“By 2030, AI could use more energy than all countries except five. Furthermore, AI consumes an amount of water sufficient to meet the basic needs of the entire 1.3 billion population of sub-Saharan Africa for a full year,” stated UN Secretary-General António Guterres during his speech at the London Climate Action Week.
He urged AI companies to measure and publicly disclose the impact of their water, carbon, and land usage. Tech giants are also being pressured to commit to implementing renewable energy in all data centres by 2030.
“If AI wants to help build a better future, AI must be honest about the costs we must bear now,” he emphasised.
AI companies currently rely on voluntary net-zero commitments and renewable electricity targets to decarbonise their operations. Many are also shifting towards gas or promoting nuclear energy as a resource for new projects.
Guterres stated that the world is not yet on the right track to achieve global climate goals and criticised voices calling for increased use of fossil fuels. He noted that implementing more renewable energy projects and using them for the electrification of transport, buildings, and industry is one of the fastest ways to reduce emissions and break dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Regarding methane, Guterres also launched a call to action. He requested fossil fuel companies to repair leaks, stop routine flaring, and adopt science-based global standards.
“I urge the fossil fuel industry to step up efforts and do what has long been delayed,” he said. He added that methane is a greenhouse gas responsible for approximately one-third of current global warming.
Guterres also announced that he will convene world leaders in September ahead of the UN Climate Conference, COP31, in Turkey, to help drive a “just transition” away from fossil fuels.