Building a Sustainable Future: Key Steps to Green AI and Drive Net-Zero Progress in the UK

A new report from the National Engineering Policy Centre in the UK outlines key steps to enhance the environmental sustainability of artificial intelligence (AI). Based on insights from industry experts, academics, civil society, and policymakers, the report focuses on improving the design, development, and use of AI systems.

This report highlights how Artificial Intelligence has the potential to accelerate progress toward net-zero carbon emissions and environmental sustainability by optimizing energy use, managing grid demand, reducing waste, monitoring ecosystems, and addressing climate change. However, to fully realize these benefits, AI systems must be designed and used in an environmentally sustainable way throughout their lifecycle, as they consume significant resources like energy, water, and critical materials, which can lead to new or increased environmental harms. This report outlines five essential steps to initiate progress toward making AI environmentally sustainable:

• Expanding environmental reporting requirements;
• Improving data transparency across the AI value chain;
• Setting environmental sustainability standards for data centres;
• Revisiting data collection, transmission, storage and management practices;
• Increasing government investments in sustainable AI initiatives.   

These globally relevant steps include recommendations for the UK government to promote leadership in AI sustainability and avoid reliance on unsustainable systems in the long run.

With appreciation to Amineh Farasatmand for her contribution in preparing this blog.