UNESCO spotlighted the environmental and ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence at the Adopt AI Summit on 26 November 2025, emphasizing the need for stronger international collaboration to ensure AI contributes to climate action rather than exacerbating environmental harm. The organization convened a high-level panel titled “Greening AI and Greening with AI: From Climate Footprint to Climate Action” at the AI for the Planet Mainstage in Paris, bringing together leaders from government, industry, and the UN system.
Moderated by Guilherme Canela, Director for Digital Inclusion and Digital Transformation at UNESCO, the discussion highlighted the growing resource demands of AI, including energy, water, and computing power, alongside its critical applications in climate mitigation, adaptation, and environmental decision-making. Panelists stressed that the environmental footprint of AI and its role in supporting sustainability are interconnected, and solutions must address both simultaneously.
From the public sector perspective, Hélène Costa de Beauregard of the French Ministry of Ecological Transition outlined France’s approach to frugal AI, showing how policies, funding, and procurement can encourage resource-efficient AI systems. UNESCO’s Abou Amani emphasized the increasing use of AI in water management, climate science, and early warning systems, noting the importance of making energy-efficient AI strategies accessible, particularly in low-resource settings. The discussion underscored UNESCO’s ongoing work in policy guidance and capacity-building for sustainable AI deployment.
On the private sector side, Paul Pelissier from SAP EMEA explained how companies can optimize the efficiency of AI systems while leveraging AI for practical sustainability initiatives. Across sectors, panelists agreed that collaboration between governments, businesses, international organizations, and academia is essential to translating environmental ambitions into measurable impact.
Alongside the panel, UNESCO hosted a dedicated booth to showcase its initiatives on Green AI, sustainable digital transformation, the Data Governance Toolkit, and its Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. The booth facilitated dialogue with policymakers, researchers, private sector actors, and civil society, highlighting practical challenges such as limited data, infrastructure constraints, and organizational resistance, while also emphasizing growing interest in AI solutions that deliver both cost savings and environmental benefits.
The Adopt AI Summit followed COP30 in Belém and took place ahead of the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026, reflecting the broader international focus on AI and sustainability. UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to advancing responsible and sustainable AI and fostering cooperation and knowledge-sharing among governments, private sector stakeholders, and international partners.
