AI energy costs threaten Africa’s green goals- Stakeholders

The high energy costs needed to power artificial intelligence data centres may hinder Africa’s green goals, according to experts.

They said there were concerns about the environmental costs of powering AI systems, which were often overlooked in discussions about the technology’s potential benefits.

This was the fallout of the recent Nigeria Fintech Week in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Simmons Cooper Partners, Ikem Isiekwena, said, “While I was seen as an engine for progress, the energy-intensive nature of its operations could exacerbate environmental degradation.
“We often talk about the advantages AI brings, but we need to consider the energy consumed by the vast data centres required to run AI models. These centres are not as green as we’d like to believe.”

He warned that this growing energy consumption could undermine Africa’s sustainability efforts, particularly as the continent strives to reduce its carbon footprint.

“The environmental impact of AI is something African governments need to address as part of their regulatory frameworks,” he added.
According to the United Nations, the focus is on reaching ambitious green energy targets by 2030, with a key emphasis on Sustainable Development Goal 7.

It noted that meeting that objective was essential for restricting global temperature rise to 1.5°C, adding that it would necessitate improved policy frameworks, increased investment in technology, and enhanced international collaboration to address current challenges.
The Greening Digital Companies 2024 report stated that the demand for energy-intensive hardware, data storage, and computational power had surged, intensifying pressure on already strained energy resources and increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

The report evaluated the greenhouse gas emissions and energy use of 200 leading digital companies globally.

It found that of the 200 companies examined, 148 reported electricity consumption totalling 518 terawatt-hours in 2022, accounting for approximately 1.9 per cent of the world total.

The 10 companies with the highest consumption levels—all headquartered in East Asia or the United States—consumed 51 per cent of the total, marking a nine per cent increase compared to 2021.

The Director of Development at the International Telecommunication Union, Cosmas Zavazava, pinpointed the importance of monitoring greenhouse gas emissions within the industry.
He stated. “From the development point of view, it is increasingly important for industry players to more closely monitor their own greenhouse gas emissions and act to reduce emissions and energy use.

“GHG impacts can be devastating and include extreme and changing weather patterns and rising sea levels. If left unchecked, climate change will undo part of the development progress of the past.”

According to Zavazava, governments can support the tech industry’s efforts to balance innovation with sustainability, fostering a twin transition towards digital growth and environmental responsibility.