The rapid advancement and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have brought significant benefits across various sectors, from healthcare to finance. However, this growth has also raised concerns about the environmental impact of AI systems. A critical challenge facing the industry today is the absence of clear, standardized metrics for measuring AI’s environmental footprint. This lack of clarity often leads to misleading claims, such as the assumption that cloud-based solutions are inherently more sustainable than other deployment models.

The Green Computing pillar of the Green Digital Action (GDA) initiative, under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) together with over 50 partners, has thus embarked on a comprehensive three-phased project to tackle this challenge. The first phase involves an overview and meta-analysis of current efforts to measure the environmental impact of AI. This phase aims to uncover insights and identify gaps in the measurement of AI workloads and scenarios.

In the second phase, the project will develop a comprehensive measurement and testing plan. This plan will involve identifying specific use cases, scenarios, and workloads that need to be examined to gain a deeper understanding of AI’s environmental impact. Finally, the third phase will implement this plan, assessing the environmental impact of various AI scenarios and workloads. The findings will culminate in guidance that can be adopted by private, public, and academic sectors, with the potential to be presented at COP 30 later this year.

The outcomes of this project are multifaceted. By leveraging real-world metrics, the initiative aims to provide clear, quantifiable data on energy consumption, water usage, and carbon emissions across diverse AI deployment models. This data will support strategic decision-making, enabling both private and public sectors to optimize their AI operations for reduced environmental impact while aligning with their sustainability priorities. Furthermore, the project seeks to foster stronger industry collaboration, encouraging information-sharing among forward-thinking organizations to accelerate the shift towards sustainable AI practices. Ultimately, by challenging preconceptions with tangible data, the project will demonstrate the actual impact of AI platforms and services, facilitating informed decisions about workload placement and deployment models.

Through these efforts, the GDA initiative aims to pave the way for a more sustainable future in AI development and deployment, ensuring that technological advancements are aligned with environmental stewardship.

You can apply to join the working group by contacting green@itu.int.