Carbon Footprint

This comprehensive study analyzes the real carbon footprint of training large neural network models, taking into account multiple often-overlooked factors. The research provides a detailed methodology for calculating CO2 emissions and demonstrates how the choice of data center location and timing can significantly impact the environmental cost of AI training. The authors show that thoughtful choices about where and when to train models can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 100x compared to random choices.

Understanding the carbon footprints (CFs) within the value chains of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) multinational enterprises (IMNEs) is vital for reducing their global environmental impact. Using a multi-regional input-output model, we assess for the first time the evolution of IMNEs’ value chain CFs from 2000 to 2019 and apply structural path analysis to identify key emissions hotspots for mitigation. We found that IMNEs’ CFs accounted for over 4 % of global emissions during this period. By 2019, China became the largest host, contributing 558 MtCO2, but geopolitical shifts post-2010 led to growing emissions in India and Southeast Asia by 4.0 % and 4.8 % annually. Upstream and downstream emissions made up 94.5 %–95.8 % of total CFs respectively. ICT manufacturing multinational enterprises (MNEs) had significant upstream emissions from electricity and heavy manufacturing, while ICT services MNEs were more affected by downstream business and transportation emissions. Low-income economies contributed heavily to direct emissions, while high-income economies experienced a rise in downstream emissions, reaching 46.8 % in 2019. Middle-income economies shifted toward more downstream activities, with upstream emissions declining to 67 %. Thus, we highlight the need for targeted emissions reduction based on the distribution of value-chain CFs to maximize mitigationpotential.

This research introduces new methodologies for measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of AI computations across different computing environments. The study presents tools and techniques for accurate carbon impact assessment of AI workloads, considering factors such as hardware efficiency, datacenter location, and time-of-day energy mix. The authors provide practical recommendations for implementing carbon-aware computing practices in AI development and deployment.

This pioneering study examines the carbon footprint of training natural language processing models. The authors quantify the financial and environmental costs of training various NLP models. The study reveals that training a single BERT model can emit as much CO2 as a trans-Atlantic flight, and that the computational costs of NLP models double every 3-4 months. The authors provide concrete recommendations to reduce environmental impact, particularly by prioritizing energy efficiency in model design and using renewable energy sources for training.

This comprehensive study analyzes the environmental impact of data centers specifically used for AI training and inference. The research provides detailed measurements of energy consumption and carbon emissions from major AI computing facilities. The authors present innovative solutions for reducing the environmental footprint of AI infrastructure, including advanced cooling systems, renewable energy integration, and workload optimization strategies. The paper also introduces new metrics for measuring and comparing the environmental efficiency of different AI computing architectures and deployment strategies.

The last decade saw the acceleration of new technologies adoption, shaping the digital landscape in terms of speed, quality and connectivity for multimedia contents and communication tools. While many activities have been able to benefit from the numerous innovations (4.0 industry, e-commerce, telecommunications, etc.) to develop, this growth has always been coupled with a significant increase of pressures on the environment and natural resources. The French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) has proposed four scenarios for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 in its study “Transition 2050, Choisir maintenant, Agir pour le Climat”. They aim to link the technical and economic dimensions with thoughts on the transformations in society that they imply or that they give rise to. This is the context for the study entitled “Assessment of the environmental impact of digital technology in France and prospective analysis”. The present report on the “prospective analysis for 2030 and 2050 and medium- and long-term courses of action”, is a continuation of Task 1 on the “state of play and courses of action” and Task 2 on the “environmental assessment of digital services in France”. Specifically, Task 3 aims to assess the environmental impact of the digital sector in France for the 2030 and 2050 timeframes according to a trend scenario and different scenarios for the mitigation of this impact. Like Task 2, it consists of an evaluation of the impacts using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. This methodology focuses on the three thirds of the digital world: user terminals, networks and data centers. The results are presented at the France-wide scale and are detailed under several levels of analysis in order to get a more acute interpretation and a better comprehension of direct environmental stakes related to digital technologies in France.

This influential paper introduces the concept of Green AI, which encourages AI research that yields better results while consuming less computing power and thus lower environmental impact. The authors contrast Green AI with what they call Red AI: research that seeks to improve accuracy through massive computational power, regardless of the environmental cost. The paper proposes new evaluation criteria for AI research that include computational efficiency alongside accuracy, encouraging more sustainable approaches to AI development.

This paper presents a methodology for accurately measuring the carbon emissions of AI workloads running in cloud environments. The research provides detailed measurements across different cloud providers and regions, showing how carbon intensity can vary significantly based on location and time of day. The authors also release tools and best practices for researchers and practitioners to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of their AI applications.

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact of AI systems throughout their lifecycle, from development to deployment and maintenance. The authors examine various strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of AI, including efficient model architectures, green computing practices, and renewable energy usage. The research also presents concrete recommendations for developing and deploying AI systems in an environmentally responsible manner.

This comprehensive survey examines the environmental impact of artificial intelligence throughout its lifecycle, from development to deployment and maintenance. The paper provides a systematic analysis of the challenges in making AI more sustainable, including hardware efficiency, algorithm design, and operational practices. The authors identify key opportunities for reducing AI’s environmental footprint and propose a research agenda for sustainable AI development.