AI: Saving Time but not the Planet
Sustainability Maryam Mustafayeva, LVI, analyses the impact of using ChatGPT to finish your homework and how tech innovations must not come at the expense of Mother Earth.
Maryam Mustafayeva
Sustainability Editor, 2025
Artwork by Ruby Hellier
Senior 11
ChatGPT has become a household name among students, workers, and educators alike. Beyond the debates about whether it’s destroying academic integrity or revolutionizing education, one thing is clear: AI is here to stay. Students aren’t just using ChatGPT to solve difficult maths problems or brainstorm paper ideas—we’re also using it to generate artwork, think of birthday gifts for our families, and, let’s face it, do many other things we probably should be doing ourselves. This rise in AI dependency isn’t just changing how we work;
it’s redefining how we live.
But there’s a side to AI that’s rarely discussed—an issue that doesn’t just affect us, but the planet. The environmental footprint of systems like ChatGPT is far more staggering than most of us realize.
When you type a question into ChatGPT, the simplicity of the process disguises the complicated, resource-intensive machinery working behind the scenes. AI doesn’t run on magic; it runs on massive data centers—huge facilities filled with servers that consume extraordinary amounts of energy. These centers work 24/7 to keep AI systems like ChatGPT operational, drawing on vast amounts of electricity and water. The power-hungry nature of these facilities means that every interaction with AI carries a cost.
Carbon emissions are perhaps the most obvious consequence. It is estimated that ChatGPT alone is responsible for over 8.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This figure is especially concerning when you consider that ChatGPT is just one of many AI tools operating worldwide. The source of this energy is also a key factor. Renewable energy can help mitigate emissions, but data centers are still mainly powered by fossil fuels. Even more worrying is that the true scale of AI’s environmental impact is hidden from public scrutiny as companies are reluctant to be as transparent as we’d hope.
Yet, even more shocking is AI’s water consumption. The servers powering AI systems generate so much heat during operation that they require extensive cooling systems to prevent them from overheating. This cooling then necessitates large amounts of water—training a single model like ChatGPT-3 reportedly used 700,000 litres of freshwater. To visualize this statistic, one must know that that many litres of water is roughly the amount needed to “produce 370 BMW cars or 320 Tesla electric vehicles”. And it doesn’t stop there. Every interaction with ChatGPT, no matter how small, adds to this water footprint. A single conversation of 25-50 queries uses the equivalent of a 500ml bottle of water. Multiply that by the millions of users engaging with AI daily, and the numbers become difficult to ignore.
Climate scientists have long warned that the planet is on track to exceed critical thresholds of global heating, with devastating consequences for ecosystems, weather patterns, and human livelihoods. Yet, while we talk about cutting down on plastic or flying less to reduce our carbon footprint, we rarely consider the environmental toll of the technology we so readily embrace. As mentioned above, part of the problem lies in the lack of transparency from companies developing these AI tools. OpenAI, the organisation behind ChatGPT, has made vague commitments to improving efficiency and reducing its environmental impact. However, these statements often lack concrete details. It is clear major tech companies prefer to keep the specifics of their operations under wraps, avoiding the kind of public scrutiny that might force them to take meaningful action.
Our planet is already experiencing the deadly impacts of climate change, from ongoing wildfires in California to severe droughts in East Africa and record-breaking heatwaves, like the one we suffered here in London in 2022. Innovation should be used as tool to combat these challenges, not contribute to their worsening! So, what can be done? Companies simply must take responsibility for the environmental consequences of their technologies, and instead invest in sustainable practices and renewable energy sources. Data centres powered by solar or wind energy could drastically reduce emissions, while advancements in cooling technology could cut down on water usage. These are not far-fetched ideas—they are achievable goals that require prioritisation and accountability. As users, we must also play a role in taking some of the responsibility. AI has become a staple in our lives, but that doesn’t mean we should use it indiscriminately. Do we really need to rely on ChatGPT to help us write every single email or solve problems we could tackle ourselves with a bit of effort? By being more mindful of how and when we use AI, we can reduce unnecessary interactions and, by extension, its environmental impact.
Of course, raising awareness is critical. Environmental campaigns often focus on visible issues like deforestation or ocean pollution, but the ignored impact of technology deserves just as much attention. By educating ourselves and others about AI’s environmental footprint, we can create a demand for change. I imagine a future where innovation is guided by principles of sustainability, so technology and the environment coexist harmoniously.
To clarify, this isn’t about rejecting technology or halting progress
it’s about rethinking how we innovate.
The climate crisis is too urgent to allow unchecked growth in any sector, and AI is no exception. By demanding transparency, making conscious choices, and advocating for sustainability we can ensure that the technologies shaping our future do not come at the expense of the planet.
The question is not whether AI has a place in our lives—it does—but whether we are willing to make the changes necessary to ensure that place is sustainable. Let’s not wait until it’s too late.