Prof. Mohamed Abdel-Karim Aly Abdrabo is Professor of Environmental Economics at Alexandria University, Egypt, with more than four decades of academic, research, and professional experience in environmental economics, climate change, and sustainable development. He established the Alexandria Research Center for Adaptation to Climate Change (ARCA), where he served as a senior academic and research leader.
His research focuses on the socioeconomic impacts and vulnerability to climate change, climate adaptation and resilience, sea-level rise, coastal vulnerability, environmental valuation, and sustainable development. He has contributed to major international climate assessments, including serving as a Lead Author for the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), and currently contributes to IPCC AR7 and MedECC assessments. He has collaborated with UNDP, UNEP, ESCWA, IUCN, GIZ, IDRC, and the European Commission on climate and environmental policy and research.
Abstract:
AI, the environment and climate change paradox
The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the environment and climate change presents a complex "sustainability paradox". The physical infrastructure needed to train and run advanced AI systems puts immense pressure on global energy, water, and material resources. This includes GHG emissions, energy and water consumption, and e-waste generation. AI, meanwhile, serves as a powerful tool to model, mitigate, and adapt to climate change, improve energy efficiency, and support smart grids. AI corporations should face scrutiny over their environmental records by different stakeholders, particularly regulatorsv