The climate and environmental footprint of AI

Fr. 11.12.2026
Vortrag
Eintritt frei!
This lecture examines the interface between artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability with focus on the environmental impact. It introduces foundational concepts of sustainability, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The lecture analyses the direct impact of AI computation load and data centres (including material and resource needs, water footprint, waste and pollution).
Vortragender:
Prof. Behnan Zakeri, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Institute for Data, Energy and Sustainability

The indirect impact on environmental sustainability will also be covered, both on the positive side (e.g., the way AI is helping in new material discovery, biodiversity and environmental monitoring, advancing a circular economy and sustainable society) and negative sides (e.g., rebound effects, irresponsible digitalisation, e-waste, and negative externalities on health and natural ecosystems, etc.).

In Kooperation mit Lectures4Future
Lectures for Future (L4F) ist eine interdisziplinäre Vortragsreihe, die seit dem Wintersemester 2019 an verschiedenen österreichischen Hochschulen angeboten wird. Forschende geben in den L4F Einblicke in ihre aktuelle wissenschaftliche und künstlerische Arbeit zu den Themen Klimakrise und Nachhaltige Entwicklung.