Environmental groups embrace AI, even as they warn of data center impacts

Environmental groups around the world are embracing artificial intelligence to accelerate climate and conservation work—yet they’re also warning that AI is increasing demand for electricity, water and greenhouse-gas emissions. Conservation International, for example, uses AI to assess satellite-detected climate hotspots and send real-time wildfire alerts to community patrols in remote areas of Cambodia. Reuters interviewed 15 major organizations; all said they use AI but raised concerns about the data centers behind it. UN University researchers project data-center footprints could more than double by 2030, while the IEA estimates electricity use reaching 945 terawatt-hours annually. The UN plans to push major AI firms to disclose environmental impacts ahead of COP31.