The Situation
With the rise and massive expansion of generative AI comes huge opportunities but also brings big environmental challenges. The lifeblood of AI is large scale data centres running millions of processors. Amazon alone has over 100 data centres each with around 50,000 servers. Every single one of these servers requires manufacturing, consumes electricity, generates heat, and requires cooling. In 2026 the global power consumption of data centres is expected to reach 1,050 terawatt-hours of electricity, this is nearly twice the power consumption of all of Canada! (622 terawatt-hours in 2023). Researchers have estimated that a ChatGPT query consumes five times the electricity as a simple web search. AI also consumes a large volume of water, used for evaporative cooling of servers. Researchers have estimated that a single conversation with ChatGPT could use half a litre of water!
What Can I Do?
As AI becomes more prevalent, most of us will find AI impossible to avoid. However, if you want to reduce its negative impacts there are still some things you can do. Use AI mindfully, before running a query consider if AI is truly beneficial. Is this something that can be done better without AI or could a simple google search suffice. In order to search the web without AI try using an alternative search engine such as DuckDuckGo (noai.duckduckgo.com). Consider which AI provider you use; some providers have committed to reduce water use and to become carbon neutral. If you use AI at work, encourage your company to track emissions from all business activities (including AI) and create plans to reduce those emissions.
On the bright side, AI is also being used to help solve some of our climate issues through climate modelling as well as research and designing innovative climate solutions. This type of science will likely help to mitigate some of AI’s negative impacts in the future.
If you have ideas you want to share on the responsible use of AI or if you want to get involved and be a part of making Mount Pleasant a greener community, we would love to have you join the committee. Please email [email protected] for more information or if you have any questions.
Have a great month,
The MPCA Green Initiatives Committee
References:
• https://news.mit.edu/2025/explained-generative-ai-environmental-impact-0117
• https://energy-information.canada.ca/en/energy-facts/clean-power-low-carbon-fuels
• https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/how-ai-use-impacts-the-environment/
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