A senior United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) official has highlighted that artificial intelligence (AI) presents both significant opportunities and serious risks for the climate. While AI technologies can play a powerful role in addressing environmental challenges, their growing energy and water demands also pose potential threats if not managed sustainably.
On the opportunity side, AI is already being used to improve early weather warning systems that can predict floods, storms and other extreme events with greater accuracy, potentially protecting millions of people. It is also helping to optimise the integration of renewable energy into national power grids and track emissions via satellite systems — all actions that support climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
However, the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, especially large data centres, carries environmental risks. These facilities consume vast amounts of electricity and water, and if powered by fossil fuels, they could increase greenhouse gas emissions and strain scarce natural resources. The UNEP official emphasised the need for renewable energy integration and careful site-specific planning to ensure that the climate benefits of AI are not overshadowed by environmental costs.
The remarks were made during the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, where global leaders discussed the transformative potential of AI for innovation, sustainable development and governance. The official also noted that global policy frameworks — including a recent United Nations Environment Assembly resolution — are beginning to encourage countries to leverage AI sustainably by balancing its benefits with measures to minimise its ecological footprint.
