Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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November 11, 2025 Climate and environment
Amid rapidly rising temperatures and increasingly frequent extreme weather events, participants at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, are discussing how technology can help adapt to new realities without exacerbating the climate crisis. Particular attention is being paid to artificial intelligence (AI) and energy-intensive cooling systems.
AI is already helping farmers predict droughts and optimize irrigation, but its environmental footprint is raising concerns among experts. At the same time, demand for powerful cooling systems is growing: amid deadly heat waves, they are becoming a necessity, while remaining one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
The conference's talks center on the Technology Enablement Program, designed to ensure access to vital innovations for those who need them most. However, progress is slow: intellectual property rules, commercial restrictions, and financial barriers continue to hinder developing countries, despite the growing urgency of the problem.
The Cooling Dilemma
COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni is taking part in discussions on technological solutions that could accelerate the fight against the climate crisis – from early warning systems for floods to satellite monitoring of methane concentrations.
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On Tuesday, the topic of energy-intensive cooling systems returned to the forefront with the launch of the Beat the Heat initiative, a joint project between Brazil, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and partners from the Cool Coalition. Its goal is to make cooling more affordable and less polluting in a world where deadly heatwaves are becoming the norm.
Demand for cooling systems is expected to triple by 2050 due to rising temperatures and population. Without intervention, emissions from cooling could nearly double, overwhelming energy grids and jeopardizing climate goals.
Artificial intelligence is off the agenda, but in the spotlight
While AI is not on the agenda for formal negotiations at COP30, it is being actively discussed within the Platform for Action, a mechanism designed to mobilize voluntary climate action from civil society, businesses, investors, cities, and regions.
The Brazilian government is highlighting successful projects using AI to improve climate resilience at the forum. One such example is the initiative of Lao researcher Alice Louangrath, who developed an AI-powered irrigation system in Savannakhet Province, which suffers from water shortages and climate stress. Louangrath was awarded the 2025 AI for Climate Action Prize.
According to Luangrath, the system combines soil moisture sensors, groundwater monitoring, and weather data with AI-powered analytics. The technology predicts soil conditions, water availability, and the risk of floods or extreme heat. Farmers receive real-time updates via a mobile app, helping them plan crops and irrigation more efficiently.
In an interview with the UN News Service, she expressed hope that participation in COP30 will help establish partnerships to disseminate this technology to other countries vulnerable to climate shocks. All AI models and data processing tools in her project will be freely available for use and development.
The environmental cost of digital solutions
As AI adoption grows, so do concerns about its environmental footprint.
Lua Cruz, coordinator of telecommunications and digital rights at the Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection, pointed out that even everyday digital activity – from smartphone use to online communications – depends on the operation of giant data centers.
"These facilities consume enormous amounts of energy and water for cooling, occupy large areas, and require significant mining to produce their components," he explained.
Cruz added that many data centers ignore environmental restrictions, choosing regions with minimal regulation and generous tax incentives.
Brazil, like several other countries, is seeking to attract such facilities—a move that, according to Cruz, could exacerbate water shortages. He cited the moratorium on new data centers in the Netherlands and the dismantling of facilities in Chile and Uruguay, which contributed to droughts.
The Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection is involved in two legal cases in Brazil. One concerns TikTok's planned data center in Caucaí, near indigenous land; the other concerns a facility in El Dorado do Sul, a city more than 80 percent flooded after devastating floods last year.
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