AI on the Environment Padlet - Arvin Pingili by

AI has the potential to help monitor and fight against climate change, however its development and operation currently harm the environment through high energy use, water consumption, mineral extraction, and electronic waste.

arp354 — 2025-10-09 19:10:28 UTC

AI produces electronic waste

arp354 — 2025-10-09 19:11:32 UTC

Data centers and servers generate large amounts of e-waste that contain toxic materials.

High Energy use for AI to operate

arp354 — 2025-10-09 19:12:13 UTC

In most places still comes from the burning of fossil fuels producing planet-warming greenhouse gases. This is not a sustainable use for energy since fossil fuels contribute to global warming and has negative effects for air pollution as well.

"A request made through ChatGPT, an AI-based virtual assistant, consumes 10 times the electricity of a Google Search"

arp354 — 2025-10-09 19:14:19 UTC

Substantial use of Water

arp354 — 2025-10-09 19:15:17 UTC

Data centres use water during construction as well as during the cooling of AI electrical components once operational. This is a huge drawback especially because roughly a quarter of humanity already lacks access to clean drinkable water and sanitation.

"Globally, AI-related infrastructure may soon consume six times more water than Denmark, a country of 6 million, according to one estimate."

arp354 — 2025-10-09 19:16:22 UTC

AI depends on unsustainable mining

arp354 — 2025-10-11 02:45:09 UTC

AI chips rely on rare earth elements and critical minerals mined under destructive and unsafe conditions.

"The microchips that power AI need rare earth elements, which are often mined in environmentally destructive ways.”

arp354 — 2025-10-11 02:47:20 UTC

This is harmful to the environment because the fact that these earth metals are rare and hard to aquire, this enables people to use unethical and unsustainable mining techniques to aquire these earth elements harming the environment.

"Fossil Fuels"

arp354 — 2025-10-11 02:51:38 UTC

AI data centers run mostly on electricity from fossil fuels such as coal and gas. These fuels release carbon when burned, which makes AI energy use harmful to the planet.

"Greenhouse Gases"

arp354 — 2025-10-11 02:52:38 UTC

When fossil fuels are burned to power AI, they release greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. This worsens climate change and raises global temperatures.

“Data centres produce electronic waste… often containing hazardous substances like mercury and lead.”

arp354 — 2025-10-11 02:54:46 UTC

Implication

arp354 — 2025-10-11 02:57:41 UTC

Unless AI systems run on renewable energy, their growth will worsen global warming.

Implication

arp354 — 2025-10-11 02:59:14 UTC

Better recycling policies need to take place, otherwise AI will accelerate pollution and deplete necessary resources.

Implication

arp354 — 2025-10-11 03:01:20 UTC

Certain areas in the world already don't have access to clean water, so since AI development relies on water for construction and water cooling, it can compete with communities of people. Especially in drought-prone regions.

Implication

arp354 — 2025-10-11 03:03:19 UTC

That "clean" image AI tried to depict actually hides the dirty truth about the supply chains and how they get their resources. These supply chains actually worsen the inequality and environmental degradation.

"Electronic waste"

arp354 — 2025-10-11 03:04:13 UTC

Old servers, chips, and broken tech from AI systems pile up and turn into electronic waste. This waste contains toxic materials that can pollute the water and soil.

"Cooling systems"

arp354 — 2025-10-11 03:04:46 UTC

AI data centers use cooling systems that need massive amounts of water to prevent overheating and need to be cooled. This is a problem because it takes water away from people and ecosystems that are already in need of it and in scarce conditions

"Rare earth elements"

arp354 — 2025-10-11 03:05:38 UTC

Since AI chips rely on rare earth metals mined from the earth, it oftentimes enables damaging and unethical methods to get them. Resulting in the mining destroying habitats and causing pollution.

Connects to the New York Times article on A.L.S.

arp354 — 2025-10-11 03:20:30 UTC

Demonstrates that innovation can be meaningful only if paired with ethical and sustainable practices not exploitation or harm. If another alternate motive is put into place and the practices are not sustainable then it won't lead to A.I. really benefiting humanity.

Connects to Goodlad & Baker's claim

arp354 — 2025-10-11 03:23:11 UTC

Reflects Goodlad & Baker’s claim that “faculty are making the most of their status… avoiding panic, combating hype, and educating others.” Similarly, UNEP’s response shows how education and regulation can redirect AI for good rather than fear or profit. Fearing AI is ultimately bad because it can beneficial in numerous ways, human shaping is just necessary to exploit all AI's usefulness and make sure it is going in the right direction.