Category: News

Is Your AI Adding to Your Carbon Footprint?   AI is transforming industries, but it’s important to remember the hidden cost: 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. With data centres powering AI and cloud computing, it’s estimated that AI contributes to around 2% of global emissions, comparable to the aviation industry (IEA, 2022; Gartner 2023).   So, how can companies ensure their AI efforts are sustainable while driving innovation and efficiency?   Optimise Data Centers for Sustainable AI   AI consumes significant energy, but businesses can cut emissions by using energy-efficient data centres. For example, Google runs its data centres on 100% renewable energy, reducing its environmental footprint (Google, 2024; WEF, 2023).   𝐈𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?   Leverage AI for Resource Efficiency AI isn’t just a consumer of energy—it can help reduce it. By optimizing energy use, companies can cut consumption by up to 10% (BCG, 2023). Google DeepMind used AI to reduce data centre cooling energy by 40% (DeepMind, 2024).   𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐈 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲?   Green Algorithms: Making AI More Sustainable Not all AI algorithms are created equal. Efficient algorithms can cut computation and reduce energy demand, helping companies minimize their carbon footprint (MIT, 2023; BCG, 2023).   𝐈𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐈 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞?   Cloud Sustainability: Scaling AI Responsibly Cloud platforms like AWS and Microsoft Azure allow businesses to scale AI while measuring and reducing carbon footprints. These tools make AI operations more scalable and sustainable (AWS, 2024; Microsoft, 2024).   𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝?   AI-Powered Sustainability Across Operations AI can do more than optimize itself—it can enhance energy efficiency across operations. Siemens uses AI to reduce energy consumption and improve equipment efficiency (Siemens, 2024; WEF, 2024).  

Catch Up on ESG What happened with ESG in the Second quarter? April 2024 Recap: 1 – Sustainability Conferences In April, sustainability conferences like EnerCom Dallas 2024, Tantalus Users Conference, and World Future Energy Summit showcased progress in sustainable energy, green IT, and climate tech, promoting talks on ESG investment strategies. 2 –  UN Sustainability Week (April 15-19) The UN General Assembly hosted its first Sustainability Week to promote sustainable tourism, infrastructure, energy, and transport, followed by discussions on implementing sustainable practices and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 3 – Portugal’s Renewable Energy Milestone Portugal reached a milestone by generating 95% of electricity from renewables, demonstrating leadership in clean energy and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. May 2024 Recap: 1 – EU’s Fossil Fuel Decline The EU reported that fossil fuels accounted for less than a quarter of its electricity generation in April, indicating a significant shift towards renewable energy sources. This transition reflects broader ESG trends of reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy sustainability. 2 – Montpellier’s Free Public Transport Montpellier, France saw a 20% rise in public transport use when buses and trams were made free for residents, showcasing how sustainable urban mobility projects can cut carbon emissions and enhance social equity. 3 – Rewilding Projects Rewilding projects like reintroducing European bison in Romania benefit the environment by increasing biodiversity and carbon sequestration, aiding in climate change mitigation while meeting ESG’s environmental aspect. June 2024 Recap: 1 – World Environment Day Celebrations on World Environment Day focused on ecosystem restoration and sustainable practices. Various campaigns and educational programs were launched globally to promote environmental stewardship. 2 – Renewable Energy Expansion Over 30% of global electricity is now generated from renewable sources, largely from wind and solar power, playing a critical role in environmental sustainability efforts central to ESG investing. 3 – Global Seed Vault Recognition The creators of the global seed vault were awarded the World Food Prize for preserving agricultural diversity, emphasizing the significance of biodiversity and sustainable agriculture for global food security.