Introduction

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the fastest-growing technologies today. It is changing lives across the world. In 2025, global investment in AI reached USD 300 billion. As AI is used more in health, transport, communication, and finance, it also increasingly affects the environment. The challenge for delegates is to reduce AI’s harms while maximizing its benefits for people and the planet. It is important to consider recent developments around the use of AI. Renewable energy can be used to power AI, and AI has an important role in environmental and social good.

Renewable Energy and Digital Infrastructure 

Expanding renewable energy is essential to meet fast-growing global electricity demands. It also supports the goals of UNEA. This is closely linked to SDG 7: affordable and clean energy. Global investment in clean energy is expected to reach about USD 2.2 trillion by the end of 2025. That is roughly twice the amount of what is invested in fossil fuels. Most of this money goes to solar, wind, grids, batteries, and efficiency, so renewables are growing faster than coal, oil, and gas.

Data centers use a large amount of electricity, and their impact is growing quickly. By 2030, data centers in the European Union are expected to increase electricity demand by about 10 percent. As artificial intelligence becomes more common, the EU plans to greatly expand its data center capacity. Experts predict that data center energy use in Europe will nearly double by 2030, adding around 10 to 15 percent more pressure on the region’s overall electricity supply in the next decade.

In the US, only about 24 percent of data center power came from renewables in 2025. Over 40 percent was supplied by fossil fuels, mainly natural gas. The rest came from nuclear and coal. This means that even if large tech companies promise to use renewable energy, the electricity grids that deliver power to the buildings still use plenty of fossil fuels. However, many new data centers are being built in places where there is a lot of sun and wind. Some technology companies are also adding their own solar panels, batteries, or even small nuclear systems to get cleaner electricity. These steps can help reduce fossil fuel use, especially if the grids are planned well and governments support clean energy rules. Smarter energy systems also make it easier to supply enough electricity for growing energy needs, like from AI data centers, while using more renewable power.

Clean energy investments are rising, but experts warn that grids and renewable capacity are still not growing fast enough. Many countries will struggle to keep up with AI-driven electricity demand. By 2035, data centers could represent around 4.5 percent of global power demand. This could require more than 360 gigawatts of extra generation capacity.

AI Innovation for Sustainable Development

When guided by strong policy, AI can support both environmental protection and social progress. In transport, autonomous vehicles (AVs) and smart mobility systems can reduce congestion and energy use. According to the European Commission’s Joint Research Center, energy demand from urban transport could be reduced by around 15 percent through the efficient electric AV engines. AV adoption can lead to smoother traffic, less idling, and better route planning, but it requires significant investment in infrastructure and raises questions about employment, travel behavior, and ethics.

Other recent projects also show how AI is advancing UNEA’s priorities. In Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean, AI-guided drones and vessels were used by The Ocean Cleanup and local UNEP partners. They collected over 2,500 metric tons of plastic between 2024 and 2025. These efforts help keep toxins out of marine food webs to protect biodiversity. This contributes to a broader plan to use smart technology to scale up environmental action for a cleaner, healthier ocean.

Further, AI has also been used to protect the Brazilian Amazon. AI monitoring helped to find the best places in the Amazon and Atlantic rainforests to implement forest restoration projects. Because of this, authorities planted over six million seedlings across forests in four Brazilian states. In addition to guiding where to restore forest cover, AI combined with satellite and remote sensing technology can map forest structure and measure carbon storage. This helps scientists track the climate benefits of restoration and conservation more accurately.

Throughout the conference, delegates should consider the positive aspects of ethical investment in AI. While it is easy to focus on the drawbacks of the new technology, it is important to consider ecological applications. The ecological cost-benefit relationship of AI will be a central aspect of debate.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence has a complex and fast-changing relationship with the environment. The negative effects are strongest in developing countries and small island states. These regions face serious climate risks and often lack resources to control how much energy and water AI uses. At the same time, AI can help countries adapt to climate change. It can improve how resources are used in agriculture and health. It can also support early-warning systems and make low-carbon power grids more efficient.

UNEA’s recommendations should guide states in developing and implementing strong environmental governance. This includes creating regulations for AI that protect the environment and promote sustainable use of technology. It is important to minimize resource use, use renewable energy for data centers, close data and access gaps, and ensure socially inclusive AI design. There is ample space for progress, so delegates are encouraged to make rules that support innovation while placing sustainable development, equity, and climate action at the core of policies.

Bibliography

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