Environmental Impact Of Technology

The Water Footprint of AI: Why We Need to Pay Attention to Its Environmental Cost As artificial intelligence continues to advance, its environmental impact, particularly concerning water consumption in data centres, warrants attention. Understanding AI's Water Usage AI models, especially large language models, require substantial computational resources. This computing power, concentrated in data centres, generates significant heat, necessitating extensive cooling, often through water-based systems. - Per Query Water Usage: Each interaction with AI models like ChatGPT consumes water. For instance, a 20-50 question session can use approximately 500 millilitres of water, primarily for cooling purposes. - Industry Impact: Data centres globally consumed over 660 billion liters of water in 2022 to cool servers running various services, including AI workloads. Key Areas of Concern 1. Water Scarcity: Many data centres are located in regions with limited water resources. In areas like California, where numerous tech companies operate, water-intensive cooling for AI adds strain to local supplies. 2. Seasonal Impact: During summer, data centres often double their water usage to maintain optimal temperatures. With climate change leading to more frequent heatwaves, this demand could increase, exacerbating the impact. 3. Comparative Impact: Training large AI models can consume up to five times more water than traditional data center operations, highlighting the need for efficient resource management. Steps Toward Sustainability To foster a more sustainable AI ecosystem, the tech industry can consider the following measures: 1. Adopt Alternative Cooling Solutions: Implementing methods like liquid immersion cooling, direct air cooling, and utilising recycled water systems can reduce water demands by up to 90% in certain environments. 2. Enhance Transparency and Accountability: Publicly reporting water usage and environmental impact data allows companies to foster accountability and enable informed consumer choices. Currently, only a few tech giants release detailed sustainability reports on water use. 3. Optimise Model Efficiency: Redesigning models to perform with lower computational intensity can significantly reduce both water and energy requirements. Model efficiency improvements, even by 10-15%, can save millions of litres of water annually. While AI offers transformative benefits across various sectors, it's crucial to balance its growth with responsible resource use. Focusing on sustainable AI practices is essential not only for environmental preservation but also for the technology's long-term viability.By embracing these strategies, we can ensure AI's advancement doesn't come at the expense of our planet's resources. Visual: The Times #ai #waterconsumption #sustainability #datacenters #environmentalimpact #greenai

Efficiency isn't sustainable if it incentivises trade-offs that harm the planet. The 🇪🇺 proposed data center sustainability rating scheme overlooks a massive energy-saving gap. We risk penalising tech that could save 10,000 households’ worth of energy. Getting the "𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫-𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐬" right is essential for Europe’s twin transition. As we scale digital infrastructure at Google, our focus remains on energy efficiency and "climate-conscious" cooling. However, the current EU Sustainability Rating Scheme proposal contains a significant oversight regarding water usage. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞: The scheme risks penalising highly energy-efficient evaporative cooling, even in regions where water is abundant and sustainably sourced. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬: 🧊 𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝑰𝒏𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚: Evaporative cooling can save the annual energy equivalent of ~10,000 households compared to dry-coolers for an average data center. ⚡ 𝑮𝒓𝒊𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆: Forcing a shift to waterless, energy-intensive cooling adds unnecessary strain to Europe's electrical grids and increases carbon emissions. We are calling for a more holistic, two-pronged approach: 1️⃣ 𝑨 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅-𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆: Metrics should recognise local ecological realities. We must disincentivise water-based cooling in water-stressed regions while allowing it where it significantly reduces a facility's energy use and carbon footprint. 2️⃣ 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝑫𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:To truly reach net-zero, renewable energy consumption should be matched in real-time, every hour of the day, on the same grid as the data center By refining these metrics, the EU can ensure the rating scheme rewards truly resource-efficient infrastructure and keeps digital leadership in lockstep with climate objectives. Check out the link to our consultation response in the first comment ⬇️ And let me know your views on the topic. #Sustainability #DataCentres #CleanEnergy #DigitalInfrastructure #WaterEnergyNexus

Digital Circular Economy 🌎 In the shift towards sustainable business practices, digital technologies offer transformative potentials for the circular economy. These technologies facilitate significant improvements across various circular business models, from design and manufacturing to life extension and resource recovery. As depicted in the recent visual framework, each stage of the circular process can be optimized through the strategic deployment of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics. For instance, IoT can enhance product lifecycle tracking, enabling more efficient reverse logistics and better product lifecycle management. Blockchain technology introduces unparalleled transparency and security in supply chains, making it easier to track the origin and handling of materials, which is crucial for recycling and remanufacturing processes. Meanwhile, AI and big data analytics can predict maintenance needs and optimize resource use, significantly extending the life of products and components. However, while technology provides opportunities for advancing circular business models, it's crucial to recognize and address potential adverse effects. The increased use of digital tools can lead to higher energy demands and contribute to electronic waste. These negative impacts necessitate a balanced approach where the benefits of digital applications are leveraged to enhance sustainability while mitigating undesirable outcomes. This balance is achieved by designing systems and frameworks that not only incorporate digital tools into circular business practices but also ensure that these tools are used in ways that prioritize environmental integrity and resource efficiency. For example, employing cloud computing solutions can decrease the need for physical infrastructure, reducing material use and energy consumption. As industries continue to integrate these technologies, it is imperative to continually assess their impacts, both positive and negative. By understanding and addressing these dynamics, businesses can more effectively harness the potential of digital technologies to drive the development of a more sustainable and economically viable circular economy. This approach ensures that technological advancements contribute effectively to environmental goals and the resilience of business operations. Source: OECD #circulareconomy #sustainability #climateaction #esg #circular #circularity

Sustainability isn’t a coat of paint. It’s part of the blueprint. In digital health transformation, “green” has moved from a nice-to-have to a core part of responsible change. And lately, it’s a recurring topic in many meeting rooms. Ignoring sustainability in transformation isn’t just bad for the planet, it exposes organizations to rising energy costs, regulatory penalties, and reputational risk. Every transformation decision, from strategy to procurement, deployment to retirement, carries an environmental footprint. Treating sustainability as an afterthought leads to waste: 🔸 Systems overbuilt for prestige rather than need 🔸 Infrastructure running far below capacity 🔸 Devices replaced on schedule, not condition I’ve seen entire racks of perfectly good hardware decommissioned, not because they failed, but because refresh cycles didn’t account for reuse or repurposing. It’s a reminder that sustainability isn’t always obvious at first glance. In one study comparing two T-shirts: 🔹 The one labelled as “sustainably produced” wore out quickly, requiring multiple replacements. 🔹 The other, not marketed as green, lasted far longer, and over its full lifecycle, had a smaller environmental footprint. Digital transformation works the same way. True sustainability comes from durability, efficiency, and total lifecycle impact, not just how “green” it looks at launch. Embedding sustainability means building it into every phase of transformation: 1️⃣ Strategy & design Set sustainability goals alongside clinical and operational goals.  Select cloud providers with renewable energy commitments. 2️⃣ Build & deploy Use modular architectures to extend system life.  Prioritize energy-efficient code, devices, and configurations. 3️⃣ Operate & maintain Monitor resource usage, consolidate storage, and optimize workloads for off-peak energy demand. 4️⃣ Retire & replace Plan for secure decommissioning, refurbishment, and recycling from the outset. Before approving your next transformation initiative, run it through the "Green Lens": ✅ Can we meet the need with fewer resources? ✅ Can this run on renewable-powered infrastructure? ✅ Can we extend the life of what we already have? If the answer is “no” across the board, you don’t have a sustainable transformation plan. If you’re leading digital transformation today, are you building it for the next launch… or the next generation? 💡This post is part of 'Rethinking Digital Health Innovation' (RDHI), empowering professionals to transform digital health beyond IT and AI myths. 💡The ongoing series and additional resources are available at www•enabler•xyz 💡Repost if this message resonates with you!

The next evolution of sustainable AI isn’t just about using more efficient hardware—it’s about Autonomous AI Agents that code with sustainability in mind. These agents are designed to operate independently, learning and adapting as they go, and have the potential to transform software development by writing energy-efficient code. They don't just optimize for speed; they prioritize minimal resource consumption. Why This Matters for Sustainability Modern AI models consume massive amounts of power, yet software development still prioritizes performance over energy efficiency. Agentic AI could change that paradigm by: ✅ Reducing Computational Waste: AI agents could select or generate the most efficient algorithms based on real-time constraints instead of defaulting to resource-heavy models. For example, they could optimize database queries to reduce data retrieval and processing or dynamically adjust resource allocation based on demand. ✅ Automating Green Software Principles: AI-driven frugal coding practices could optimize data structures, reduce redundant calculations, and minimize memory overhead. This could involve choosing the most energy-efficient programming language or framework for a specific task. ✅ Measuring & Optimizing in Real Time: The reward function would be clear: lower energy consumption, less latency, and reduced emissions—all while maintaining accuracy. ✅ Parallel & Distributed Optimization: AI agents could continuously refine codebases across thousands of cloud instances, improving sustainability at scale. AI-Driven Innovation Archive for Green Coding One of the most exciting ideas in autonomous coding is the "Green Code Archive"—an AI-generated repository of energy-efficient code snippets that could continuously improve over time. Imagine: 🔹 Reusing optimized code instead of reinventing energy-intensive solutions. 🔹 Carbon-aware coding suggestions for green data centers & renewable energy scheduling. 🔹 AI-driven legacy refactoring, automating migration to sustainable architectures. Measuring AI’s carbon footprint after the fact isn’t enough—the goal should be AI that reduces energy use at the source. The future of sustainable tech isn’t just about efficient hardware—it’s about intelligent, autonomous software that optimizes itself for minimal environmental impact. While this technology is still emerging, challenges remain in areas like training complexity and robust validation. However, the potential benefits for a greener future are undeniable. Learn more about leading with Agentic AI and its transformative potential in my book, "Empowering Leaders with Cognitive Frameworks for Agentic AI: From Strategy to Purposeful Implementation" (link in the comments section). #agenticai #greenai #sustainability

How much is your digital presence costing the planet? If you’ve ever wondered about the environmental impact of your digital life, you’re not alone. Our online habits emails, cloud storage, streaming, and scrolling leave a carbon footprint. But here’s the good news: With a little awareness and effort, we can reduce it. Here’s how I approach measuring and reducing my digital carbon footprint: 📊 Step 1: Start with a baseline Before you make changes, measure where you are now. 🌐 Track your average daily time spent online. 📂 Record the size of your stored files (emails, cloud storage, instant messaging). 🔄 Identify any “digital waste” (like unused apps or duplicate files). 💡 Why this matters: Without understanding your starting point, you can’t measure progress. 🗓️ Step 2: Plan regular checkpoints Evaluate your progress at consistent intervals: -After 1 month, 3 months, and a year, compare your usage data. -Measure how much digital waste you’ve eliminated and how your habits have changed. For example, I’ve started deleting old emails and unsubscribing from unnecessary newsletters. After just a month, my cloud storage size dropped by 20%. 🌱 Step 3: Track your impact Each action contributes to reducing your carbon footprint. -Cutting down on online time? Less energy used by servers. -Decluttering your cloud? Reduced need for data storage infrastructure. -Compressing large files? Lower data transfer emissions. The stats are eye-opening: -A single email with a large attachment can emit up to 50g of CO₂—as much as driving a car for 1km! -Streaming videos accounts for nearly 60% of internet traffic, contributing significantly to global emissions. Making these changes isn’t just about reducing emissions—it’s about rethinking our relationship with technology. Each step feels like a small win for the planet, and it’s rewarding to see measurable results. Have you ever tracked your digital carbon footprint? What steps are you taking to reduce it? #Sustainability #DigitalCarbonFootprint #EcoFriendlyTech #SustainableLiving

THE MICROPLASTIC MINDSET Not all recycling is progress. Some of it is waste in disguise. Think of the plastic bottle with flowers. It looks creative, but it hides the truth. It hijacked a waste stream instead of solving it. Your ESG strategy can achieve the same results. Your sustainability work can shine in reports. But under the surface, your operations leak value. The risks are real: ✦ Tracking scripts leaking into your data ocean. ✦ New assets built while old ones rot. ✦ Legacy systems locked, unable to meet climate goals. This is the microplastic mindset. Regulators, investors, and stakeholders are all paying attention. The EU’s CSRD demands traceable disclosures. The SEC climate rule increases reporting risk. African Green Finance frameworks push for verified outcomes. Investors no longer accept glossy ESG optics. They demand proof of operational integrity. I call it plastic-grade integrity. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 ✦ Circular design applied to every digital process. ✦ PET discipline in every deliverable and campaign. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 ✦ Waste turned into value within your team. ✦ Savings redirected into verified sustainability projects. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲. I worked with a sustainability client in Kenya. We eliminated 9,200 unused digital assets. This reduced their storage costs by 68 percent. The savings funded verified carbon credit projects in Nakuru County. The credits supported 2,000 new trees. They also created seasonal jobs for 120 farmers. That is not a line in a report. That is operational ESG. It connects efficiency, carbon credits, livelihoods, and compliance. For ESG leaders, climate directors, and sustainability brands, the shift is clear: ⤷ From glossy disclosures to traceable outcomes. ⤷ From compliance risk to investor confidence. ⤷ From optics to measurable climate and community impact. Early adopters will hold the advantage. Capital flows to proof, not promises. Reputation follows results, not reports. Your digital PET bottle is waiting. It sits in unused files, outdated systems, forgotten assets. It bleeds cost, energy, and credibility. The question is not if you have one. The question is when you will melt it. TL;DR: ESG without waste reduction is optics. Strip digital waste. Redirect value. Fund climate action. Build investor confidence. 𝗣𝗦: 𝗜 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗘𝗦𝗚, 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀. 𝗠𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻. ♻️ 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 🔔 Follow Fredrick Muriithi for bold, sustainable marketing insights.

In our push to stay secure, it’s easy to overlook the environmental cost of digital defense. India’s data center capacity is set to reach 2,070 MW by the end of 2025, nearly double from where we are today. It’s a sign of progress, but also a wake-up call. These centers consume massive amounts of energy, and without sustainable practices, the impact can be severe. But there’s hope. Companies are taking proactive steps. For instance, the Adani Group is set to supply clean energy to power Google’s cloud services in India, aligning with Google’s goal to operate entirely on clean energy by 2030. As cybersecurity professionals, we have a role to play: 🔹 Optimizing Data Storage: Implementing smart data retention policies to cut down on unnecessary storage and energy consumption. 🔹 Adopting Energy-Efficient Encryption: Using hardware-accelerated encryption to enhance security while saving energy. 🔹 Enhancing Data Center Efficiency: Targeting lower Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) to ensure more efficient energy use. This #EarthDay, let’s commit to embedding sustainability into our cybersecurity frameworks. By doing so, we not only protect our digital assets but also contribute to the health of our planet. #EarthDay2025 #Cybersecurity #GreenIT #DigitalDefense #CyberSustainability #DataCenters

Technology today is more than infrastructure—it’s the foundation on which economies, societies, and organizations operate. But as we accelerate digital transformation, a pressing question arises: Are we building digital ecosystems that are not just fast and efficient, but also sustainable, resilient, and future-proof? Why This Matters - Sustainability: With data centres consuming massive amounts of energy, and e-waste becoming one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally, the digital economy has a real environmental footprint. Green IT, energy-efficient architectures, and circular design models aren’t optional anymore—they’re critical. Resilience: From cyberattacks to supply chain shocks, the digital world faces constant disruption. Systems need to be designed not only to recover but to adapt and thrive under change. Inclusivity & Accessibility: A resilient ecosystem is one that works for everyone. Bridging the digital divide ensures that growth isn’t limited to a few but is shared broadly across communities and economies. Trust & Responsibility: Privacy, ethical AI, and transparent governance are the cornerstones of a responsible ecosystem. Without trust, digital adoption cannot scale. What Does a Sustainable & Resilient Digital Ecosystem Look Like? - Green Cloud & Infrastructure – Data centres powered by renewable energy, carbon-aware computing, and optimized workloads. - Adaptive Cybersecurity – AI-driven threat detection, zero-trust architectures, and proactive risk management. - Digital Inclusion – Affordable access, user-friendly design, and accessibility-first solutions. - Responsible AI & Data Use – Bias-free AI, ethical data governance, and strong privacy frameworks. - Collaborative Ecosystems – Governments, businesses, and innovators co-creating standards, interoperability, and shared platforms. The Way Forward Sustainability and resilience are no longer “nice-to-haves.” They are strategic imperatives for digital transformation. Leaders who prioritize them today will shape digital ecosystems that are future-ready, trusted, and impactful. Let’s shift the conversation from “How fast can we go digital?” to “How responsibly, inclusively, and sustainably can we build digital ecosystems that endure?” Because the future is not just digital—it’s sustainably digital and resilient by design. #DigitalTransformation #Sustainability #Resilience #Innovation #TechForGood #FutureOfWork

Scientists created artificial leaves that are 10X more powerful than nature's own. These synthetic leaves can absorb 10 times more CO2 than real leaves - a breakthrough that could change how we fight climate change. For years, artificial leaves were trapped in laboratories, dependent on pressurized CO2 tanks to function properly. It was like having a powerful tool, but being unable to use it where it matters most - in the real world. That's when researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago stepped in with a revolutionary idea. They redesigned artificial leaves to work outside labs, pulling CO2 directly from the air we breathe and from industrial emissions. The team started by tackling the biggest challenge: making these leaves work with diluted CO2 sources instead of pressurized tanks. Through innovative design solutions, they created leaves that could function in real-world conditions - a feat previously thought impossible. This wasn't just about matching nature - it was about surpassing it. Their breakthrough means these artificial leaves can now: - Work in normal air conditions - Process emissions from coal plants - Operate without specialized equipment - Potentially produce oxygen After years of research, they've finally bridged the gap between laboratory innovation and real-world application. Monthly carbon capture rates could now exceed nature's capabilities by 1000%. It's truly inspiring how these scientists have turned a laboratory concept into a potential solution for climate change. And they did it by: - Identifying a critical limitation - Thinking beyond conventional methods - Focusing on real-world applications - Creating practical solutions This technology isn't just about capturing CO2; it's about giving us a new tool in the fight against climate change. What do you think about using artificial leaves to clean our planet's air? #ClimateInnovation #Sustainability #GreenTech #ClimateAction