Belém, Brazil (EFE).- How to use it, regulate it, and prevent it from worsening the climate crisis were key questions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) during the first sessions of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, where the technology has emerged as a central theme in discussions among governments, scientists, and tech corporations.
Over the past two days, at least a dozen panels have explored both the potential of AI to support climate adaptation and mitigation, and the growing concerns about its environmental footprint.
Global spending on AI reached 250 billion dollars in 2024, according to Vishal Jain, who leads GreenMind, a team dedicated to measuring AI’s ecological footprint.
“AI is everywhere. Its growth is explosive, and behind this there is always a carbon, energy, or water footprint that most people are unaware of,” Jain told EFE.
Each interaction with AI models, whether Gemini, ChatGPT, or DeepSeek, consumes energy and contributes to emissions.
Large data centers require extensive cooling, often using millions of gallons of water per day.
A single high-capacity facility can consume up to 5 million gallons daily, roughly equivalent to the water usage of a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI).
Lack of transparency and standards
Experts warn that AI’s environmental impact is still largely hidden. There is currently no global standard for measuring water, and energy usage in data centers, and companies release only partial information.
“There is no standardization, there is a lack of transparency. This field is evolving so fast that, in effect, no common measurement framework exists today,” Jain said.
To address this, his team has developed SumEarth.AI, a tool intended to track electricity consumption, water usage and carbon emissions from different AI systems. “The hardest part is making people understand that this matters,” he added.
Representatives from Google and Huawei acknowledged the challenge. Google sustainability director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Adam Elman, said the company is studying how to make its AI systems more efficient, calling the effort “strategic.” Huawei senior expert Paolo Gemma advocated for shared solutions across the tech sector.
AI as part of the solution
Some industry leaders argue that AI can reduce its own footprint. Rob McGreevy, Chief Product Officer at Aveva, said AI tools are already helping manufacturing sectors cut energy use, lowering both costs and emissions.
The Brazilian presidency of COP30 will also launch the Climate Artificial Intelligence Institute, aimed at training institutions in developing countries to apply AI in climate actions.
In agriculture, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, and the Gates Foundation announced a 2.8 billion dollars investment to develop an open-source AI model to support farmers, aiming to train 100 million agricultural workers by 2028.
“AI is here to stay,” conference speakers repeated, but how it is managed may determine whether it becomes a climate ally or a growing threat. EFE
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