Observatory on the Environmental Impact of AI
Supported by Capgemini
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) raises numerous questions about its environmental impact. Indeed, increasing computational demands lead to a significant rise in energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and water use, making an in-depth analysis of environmental effects essential.
The Observatory on the Environmental Impact of AI, led by the ENS Institute for AI and Society and supported by Capgemini, aims to improve understanding of AI’s ecological footprint and to propose ways to reduce its impacts.
Scientific leadership is provided by Aurélie Bugeau, Professor of Computer Science at LaBRI, University of Bordeaux, and junior member of the Institut universitaire de France, and by Anne-Laure Ligozat, Professor of Computer Science at LISN (Paris-Saclay) and at ENSIIE (Évry-Courcouronnes).
The project team is composed of Théophile Lenoir, Institute for AI and Society, and Constance de Leusse, Institute for AI and Society.
In the context of the growing energy consumption of AI data centers, the Environmental Impact of AI Observatory at the AI and Society Institute has published a policy brief highlighting the shortcomings of the European directive governing data center transparency. Its findings will be presented during a hearing before the French Senate on May 27, 2026.