As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology advances and transforms industries, developing and deploying sustainable and environmentally responsible AI is becoming increasingly important. Sustainable AI holds great promise for reducing energy consumption and optimising resource use. However, it can also have unintended consequences that need careful consideration. The carbon footprint of AI is significant, and efforts to address its environmental impact are necessary. In this article, we will explore the importance of developing sustainable AI and its potential to support sustainable development.

Body: AI has significant potential to revolutionise how we address sustainability challenges. By analysing vast amounts of data and identifying patterns, AI can help make informed decisions about resource management, energy efficiency, and pollution reduction. Additionally, it can automate repetitive tasks, freeing human capacity to focus on more creative and strategic approaches to sustainability.

However, AI's deployment must be guided by ethical considerations to ensure that it benefits all stakeholders and does not exacerbate existing social and environmental inequalities. Developing sustainable AI requires a shift towards collaborative problem-solving, involving experts from diverse fields, including environmental science, social science, engineering, and computer science.

AI is being deployed in a wide range of applications to support sustainable development. For instance, it monitors deforestation activities, detects illegal fishing, optimises agricultural practices, reduces waste, and improves energy efficiency. AI is also being used to improve climate models, inform policy decisions, and reduce the carbon footprint of the AI industry.

Training large language models like ChatGPT requires significant computing resources and specialised hardware, and the energy consumption associated with training these models has raised concerns for environmental sustainability. Efforts to use more green energy in AI infrastructure are underway. Several renewable energy solutions, energy-efficient hardware designs, and other cutting-edge initiatives have the potential to revolutionise the AI industry while reducing its carbon footprint.

Efforts are also being made to reduce the environmental impact of training deep learning models, such as developing more efficient algorithms and sparse neural networks. Developing AI systems that are truly sustainable requires a comprehensive approach that prioritises environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical considerations, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting transparency and accountability, and minimising energy consumption.

Conclusion: In conclusion, sustainable AI can play a crucial role in enhancing sustainability efforts, such as reducing environmental waste and identifying environmental threats more effectively. However, ethical considerations, including data privacy and ongoing monitoring and evaluation, must also be addressed to fully realise the potential of sustainable AI. A comprehensive approach to sustainable AI development and deployment can maximise the potential of this technology to support sustainable development and create a more equitable and sustainable future for all. Open and transparent conversations about the opportunities and challenges associated with sustainable AI are necessary to create a more sustainable and responsible future for AI.

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The aim of the meeting is to bring together professionals (Director HSE GBS, Human Resources Director, Corporate H&S Director, Global Vice President HSE, Global SHEQ Manager, Head of HSE, Director of Safety, VP Head of Corporate Safety, Operational Excellence Manager, ) from leading multinational organizations across the EMEA region to network, benchmark and find answers regarding safety ROI, Embrace innovation and accept digital transformation, time management .'

Full access to all of the presentations, discussions and round table All refreshments and lunches The online documentation: strategic information from the conference (speakers' presentations) that you can use later internally.'

Axiom Groupe is a leader in international business meetings and communication, producing conferences, delivering business intelligence and strategic information, connecting top-level business professionals throughout the events.

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Currently, cryptocurrencies are influencing a data center production boom. As the demand for digital services increases, e-waste production follows. Data centers must adopt sustainability practices to minimize waste and support the global ecosystem.

Current E-waste Challenges

Environmentalists are targeting e-waste because it makes up nearly 70% of toxic, surface-level pollution. Many computers, phones, and other electronics contain hazardous elements like lead. In landfills, devices degrade over time and expose their internal components.

Stormwater can carry lead out of a landfill and into freshwater sources. If children consume the water, they may experience mental development limitations. Another challenge in the e-waste sector has to do with energy efficiency.

Data center workers must keep the facilities cool to preserve electronics. They also must limit their energy-related pollution. When professionals let centers overheat, condensation can accumulate inside devices.

Condensation and heat can cause short-circuiting in hard drives. It also may create voltage fluctuations, which cause fires. When tech professionals effectively regulate e-waste and energy use, they can achieve sustainability.

Who Regulates Data Center Efficiency?

In 2018, China banned all outsourced recycling programs. Post-industrial countries like America sent the majority of their electronics to China. After it closed its doors, the U.S. experienced mass recycling challenges.

Environmentalists recognized most limitations stemmed from minimal regulations. Only about half of U.S. states regulate e-waste. There are currently zero federal laws managing the lifecycle of electronics.

E-waste produces adverse economic, environmental, and social effects. Data centers can take action and minimize harm by adopting sustainable waste management practices.

Repurpose Used Electronics

Facility owners may team up with recycling facilities to decrease landfill waste. Some companies offer compensation for their e-waste donations. Data centers can enhance their sustainability and generate passive income by repurposing used electronics.

Professionals may also minimize e-waste by purchasing used computers instead of new versions. Repairing damaged devices rather than throwing them out additionally conserves landfill space. Over time, repairing and reusing old electronics can shrink a data center's carbon footprint and improve its eco-consumer appeal.

Improve Electronics' Longevity

Individuals can also install sustainable cooling technologies in centers to enhance electronics longevity. Smart thermostats regulate indoor temperatures and improve energy efficiency. The systems use sensors and the internet of things (IoT) to maintain low-impact conditions.

Data centers can also pair their efficiency-enhancing devices with renewable energy sources. Geothermal cooling systems circulate cool air into buildings from beneath Earth's surface. The energy exchange relies on zero emission-producing power sources.

Invest in Low-Impact Devices

Tech professionals can also minimize e-waste by installing energy-efficient computers. Energy Star evaluates computer pollution and certifies the most sustainable options. The certified devices use less energy and last longer than conventional versions.

Individuals may also place fanless computers in their centers to enhance sustainability. Fan-less devices are more reliable than traditional versions because they experience fewer hardware failures. Using heat sink alternatives is also more energy-efficient, which reduces general pollution.

Data center owners can additionally invest in energy-efficient server technologies to minimize surface and atmospheric waste.

E-waste Conservation Benefits

When individuals invest in e-Waste reduction systems, they can improve their health and well-being. Prolonged exposure to e-Waste may increase kidney and nervous system damage. Reducing chromium, barium and other pollution can protect humanity and the environment.

Improving e-Waste programs can also support the circular economy. Reusing electronic materials and minimizing resource exploitation improves financial stability. Developing a sustainable electronic sector also produces more green jobs.

Who Should Initiate Sustainable Data Center Practices?

Tech companies can initiate sustainable data center practices. When electronic engineers develop supportive technologies, they can promote waste reduction efforts. They may also stimulate growth of the green economy.

Government officials can additionally initiate sustainable data center practices by developing federal e-waste regulations. Other eco-conscious industries like the water recycling sector can team up with tech centers. Together, each industry may promote less environmentally degrading practices.

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Businesses are adopting green software to meet eco-consumers' demands and stay ahead of government regulations. Minimizing energy waste also improves the cost-efficiency of digital technology. There are four ways companies can improve the sustainability of their software.

The Rising Demand for Green Software

Before exploring the green software development methods, individuals must assess the advancements' demands. Software is the backbone of digital devices and intelligent conservation systems. One industry under scrutiny for its high energy use is crypto.

Bitcoin trading and tracking involve an energy-intensive mining process. Mining absorbs nearly 110 Terawatt Hours of electricity annually, which is similar to a small country like Sweden. The mining computers use electricity deriving from fossil fuels like oil and coal.

Large cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin create about 37 megatons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Human-induced emissions are the leading cause of climate change. Governments are targeting air pollution by establishing carbon-neutralizing regulations and policies.

The United Nations' Paris Agreement calls upon industrial and post-industrial countries to significantly reduce their emissions. Tech companies can abide by global regulations by developing green software. The first step to producing green software is adopting energy-efficient coding and designs.

Green Coding and Design

Before developing green codes and designs, tech professionals can use association management software (AMS) to evaluate their current system's efficiency. AMS helps individuals access the latest advancements and ensure the sustainability of their programs. Coding professionals can use AMS built into the cloud to easily acquire important data.

After installing an AMS, individuals can develop clean codes to improve a device's energy efficiency. Professionals target structural and behavioral considerations when writing green codes. Sustainable designs and codes minimize energy waste from code blocks and user scenarios.

Energy-Efficient Language

Another consideration when developing green software is computer language. Environmental professionals assessed 29 different programming languages and determined the most energy-efficient versions. They evaluated the energy use, time and power associated with each system.

Researchers found that simplistic languages like C and Rust use little electricity and perform less advanced functions. Other languages like Python use more energy and conduct complex functions. Noting that not all fast programs are more sustainable is essential.

Sustainable AI Model

Artificial intelligence (AI) models also influence the sustainability of computer software. As smart technology expands in the commercial and residential sector, developers improve their energy efficiencies to meet eco-consumer demands and government regulations. Individuals must target reproducibility when developing sustainable AI models.

They should apply green coding to their systems to efficiently reproduce results. Tech professionals should also explore the benefits and limitations of deep learning when creating sustainable AI models.

Minimal-Power Software

Individuals must also assess the energy efficiency of computing when developing green software. One of computer software's leading causes of electricity waste is overheating. When systems work hard to complete advanced functions without the proper support, they produce significant amounts of heat.

A computer's fan runs prolifically to cool down the system and support its functions. When professionals develop advanced software systems, they can reduce heating and fan usage. Before developing advancements, individuals can use a software development assistant to access energy measurements.

Green Technology's Benefits

Improving software's sustainability is essential to minimizing emissions and supporting the green revolution. Creating energy-efficient smart devices and computing systems can significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Individuals can use sustainable technological devices to decrease their reliance on fossil fuels.

Green software can also create affordable technology by minimizing energy absorption. Companies are additionally adopting green software to gain a leg up on their competitors.

Is Green Software Right for Your Company?

Business owners may develop green software if they want to lower their utility costs. They also may adopt the advancements when shrinking their carbon footprints. Green software additionally helps companies meet eco-consumer demands and remain relevant in their industries.

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1. Are we in a post Covid super cycle? How has the post pandemic effected commodities? Learn how the reopening of society has impacted the commodity value chain and how you can prepare for the 2022 economic climate. How long will the post Covid bounce last? Our industry leading speakers will discuss the outlook for the years to come.
2. Global Commodity Trade Perspectives: Discover the now and next of commodity trading. Find out the state of the agricultural, mining and metals, and energy commodities markets. Discover the greatest challenges and opportunities in the current trading climate.
3. ESG within the commodities industry: What steps are required to transform the commodities industry to meet the ESG expectations in the modern world? Understand how to combat inefficiencies, enhance reputation, stay compliant and boost sustainability to meet and surpass global ESG standards
4. Energy Transition- How will it change the landscape? How will the demand for energy commodities change over time? Demand trends'
   will the energy transition support or stifle demand? Where is demand expected to grow? Impact of energy transitions on metals markets and food prices.

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This waste issue covers more than just plastics, but they're a significant part of it. Single-use plastic products contribute to millions of tons of waste annually, and 94% of American tap water samples contain microplastics. These pollutants endanger both wildlife and humans, so something needs to change.

While this is a multifaceted issue, creating a more efficient recycling system can help. Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics may be the key to that goal.

The Recycling Crisis

The U.S. outsources much of its recycling. While China has recently stopped accepting recycling products, the nation still sends waste to other nations. Up to 70% of these materials don't get recycled in the end, so this outsourcing proves ineffective.

The nation's domestic recycling efforts don't fare much better. Roughly one in four items people place in recycling containers are contaminated, rendering them unrecyclable. Sorting through these materials to separate recyclables from trash is an expensive, slow and challenging process.

Since it takes so much time and resources to sort and process, some cities have started burning or trashing recyclable materials. If the U.S. recycling system worked as it should, plastic waste would be a far less pressing issue. Contamination and inefficient sorting processes have rendered it ineffective, though, leading to growing plastic pollution.

How AI and Robotics Could Help

Recently, several startups and researchers have proposed a tech-centric solution. Automation, which makes manufacturing processes far more efficient, could do the same for recycling centers. AI-powered robots could sort waste from recyclables far faster and more accurately than people, recycling more materials.

Machine vision systems give these robots the ability to identify specific objects and determine whether they're recyclable. They can then grab recyclable materials off conveyor belts and place them in bins away from the trash. This process is identical to how humans sort recyclables from waste, but robots are far more efficient at it.

AMP Robotics, one of the leading startups in this field, claims their machines can pick 70 to 80 items a minute. That's twice as fast as a human worker, and the robots are theoretically more accurate, too. Machines can't get tired or distracted, so they won't make mistakes due to boredom or other distractions.

The waste and recycling industry also faces a growing labor shortage, hindering its productivity. Using robots to sort recyclables will help facilities improve efficiency despite struggling to find new workers. With machine learning systems, these systems will also grow more accurate the longer they stay in service.

Challenges With Robotic Recycling

For all of their benefits, recycling robots still come with some downsides. Most notably, these systems are expensive. One San Francisco-based recycling company spent $11 million to upgrade its one facility. While robots save money in the long run from reduced labor costs and improved productivity, these upfront expenses can be prohibitive.

Robots are also not a perfect solution. Machine vision may be more accurate than people, but it still doesn't work as it should 100% of the time. Waste will continue to be an issue, albeit a less impactful one. Robots will have to work alongside humans, not replace them, to provide the most benefits.

These challenges mean that the shift towards automation will be a long, gradual one. Eventually, though, AI-powered robots could revolutionize plastic recycling.

Sustainability Is Challenging, But Technology Can Help

Reducing the nation's plastic waste won't solve the entire sustainability problem, but it's an excellent first step. Technology like AI and robotics make it easier to tackle these challenging tasks, bringing people closer to broader sustainability goals. Robots may not disrupt recycling overnight, but they're slowly making it a more efficient process.

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The Paris Agreement

On his first day in office, President Biden signed the U.S. onto the Paris Agreement. The signing signified our commitment to greenhouse gas emission reduction. We can ensure the sustainability of our country by evaluating all significant capitalistic sectors.

It is essential to explore the environmental impacts of currency in America. Many individuals rely on paper money, fueling daily transactions. Cryptocurrency is moving up the financial ladder of importance, so we must evaluate its impact on ecology and alignment with the Paris Agreement's goal.

Decentralization

The decentralization of cryptocurrency promotes a significant draw. Rather than human-powered management, computers secure individuals' money. Machine-driven industry alterations have a considerable impact on the environment.

Bank secured finances generate large greenhouse gas emissions. Financial buildings alone utilize 24-hour security systems, lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, computer monitors and ATM machines. A bank chain can have various locations globally, generating significant air pollution over time.

Cryptocurrency consumes about 25% less energy than conventional bank systems. Less energy-consuming locations are necessary for securing digital currencies. With clean energy sources, the industry could potentially reach a net–zero standing.

Decentralized currencies also promote a minimalistic lifestyle for individuals. Many places do not accept crypto as a viable form of payment, helping people save their money and reduce their environmental impact. Buying less helps you use fewer depletable resources and generate a smaller amount of waste.

Mining

Crypto mining utilizes various computer systems, running 24-hours a day, calculating faster than humanly possible. Many computers running at once use large quantities of energy. You must conserve energy through each process, posing limited effects on the environment.

Renewable energy sources provide a sustainable solution for fossil fuel-driven power. Canada relies on hydropower, fueling many commercial and residential energy needs. Their vast systems generate 355 terawatt-hours of clean electricity annually, powering 40,000 homes.

Cryptocurrency mining can utilize hydroelectricity to fuel production. They can additionally access solar power for energy security. As the solar industry expands, our accessibility to solar farm-produced electricity rises.

Mining facilities can adopt energy-efficient appliances, reducing the strain on renewable energy systems. Renewable power devices decrease efficiency when overworked. Individuals can sustain the efficiency and longevity of the system by utilizing energy-saving devices.

A significant issue in the cryptocurrency mining industry is overheating. When computers run all day long, they generate a lot of heat. Energy-efficient mini-split heat pumps reduce power consumption while protecting equipment. They also reduce humidity, preserving devices from corrosion.

Paperless

As one may imagine, paperless currencies are environmentally beneficial. The U.S. paper currency contains 75% cotton and 25% linen. Machines convert the materials into tiny fibers, blending them into sheets.

Cotton is a water-intensive crop, contributing to natural resource exploitation. Various farmers also use pesticides and synthetic fertilizers in the growing process, causing ecological degradation. The ink, printing, overprinting, cutting and transporting of physical money also poses adverse environmental effects.

E-Waste

Cryptocurrency eliminates surface pollution and carbon emissions associated with paper money. But, it is not a completely sustainable currency option. E-waste is a significant concern in the crypto industry.

Companies like Bitcoin use specialized hardware designed to run all day and night. Every one and a half years, professionals must replace the devices. The planned obsolescence generates vast landfill pollution.

Over time, environmentalists expect the issue to worsen. As the industry competition increases, companies must adopt advancing technology, increasing the security and efficiency of the currency. We only recycle 20% of the old technology, and the remaining 80% ends up in landfills and the environment.

The growing quantity of e-waste has no simple solution. We must hold companies responsible for their polluting impacts and urge for conservation.

Carbon Emissions

Another environmental impact of crypto is carbon emissions. About 65% of Bitcoin mining occurs in China. The country derives its energy from coal-driven production, releasing planet-warming pollution into the atmosphere.

The carbon footprint of cryptocurrencies is equal to New Zealand‘s. One company generates 36.95 megatons of carbon emissions annually.

Future Sustainability

Fortunately, environmental engineers are developing emission reduction technology for cryptocurrency. If you invest in the decentralized currency and are concerned about its impact, you can contact your government officials, calling for environmental crypto-regulations. Countries signed onto the Paris Agreement can benefit from reducing the global money's ecological impact, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

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Such intense global economic activity is bound to also generate massive quantities of waste. In fact, the global recycling market is forecast to increase to $377 billion by 2024, with severe environmental impact. Especially, plastic waste management has become an issue of great concern to environmentalists.

At least 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been created in the world, and 6.3 billion metric tons have become plastic waste. With only 12% incinerated, most of its still exists, as plastics take 400 years to break down. Of great concern is the fact that only 9% of global plastic waste has been recycled.

Meanwhile, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), only about 8% of plastic waste in the U.S. gets recycled, while Deloitte found that Canada generated 3.3 million tons of plastic waste in 2016, of which, only 11% was recycled. This means that the remainder ended up in landfills or got lost in the environment. It is projected that at the current rate of consumption, Canada will generate $11 billion worth of plastic waste annually, by 2030.

Information uncovered in similar studies in different countries at different times, shines the light on a troubling issue for the world that the recycling industry is dysfunctional. Plastic items recycled by consumers end up in landfills or pollute the environment for lack of accountability and transparency in the different processes in the waste management industry.

A recent report by DHL and Accenture shows the complexity of tracking multiple collections at a global level, with endless invoices, receipts, shipments, serial numbers, and volumes of customs documents, between companies, hampering transparency. The increasing number of global and regional players in the plastic recycling market, is further aggravating the lack of accountability, underscoring the need for greater transparency.

This need to rethink conventional processes and bring accountability to information in a digital age has focused on digital identity, specifically on blockchain, which has inexorably changed how transactions are handled.

Blockchain brings greater visibility to the supply chain, fitting in everyone in the value chain so every transaction is seen by all, in real-time.

Blockchain was invented in 2008, by a person or group of persons known as Satoshi Nakamoto, to function as the public transaction ledger of the cryptocurrency bitcoin. Even though Bitcoin was the first blockchain system created, the blockchain system is making ripples in the global economy today, with ledgers replacing the current system of doing business. As Don and Alex Tapscott, the authors of Blockchain Revolution, defined it in 2016, The blockchain is an incorruptible digital ledger of economic transactions that can be programmed to record not just financial transactions but virtually everything of value.

Moreover, with blockchain tracking in real-time, every movement of goods from company to company, or from one section of a company to another, and with no one person controlling the system, no one can change or corrupt information.

With recycled plastic waste, having to pass through several organizations before reaching its final destination, it is critical there is transparency at every turn. CEO of recycling platform RecycleGo, Stan Chen, said that the recycling business is plagued with ine”ciencies, a slew of stakeholders, and a lack of digital data. In his view, the recycling industry has a need for greater supply chain visibility for better decision-making.

And so, RecycleGo partnered with enterprise technology firm DeepDive Technology Group to leverage blockchain for supply chain transparency. This project is still developing.

For instance, in the first phase, supply chain participants will be able to identify the entire history of a specific plastic bottle. Collaborators in the project will be able to determine when a plastic bottle was created, collected, returned to its original raw material state, and ultimately shipped back to the manufacturer to create another plastic bottle.

According to DeepDive CEO, Misha Hanin, the global plastic recycling industry currently provides fragmented and incomplete information. The perfect solution, then, would be to engage blockchain, which is primarily known for its ability to share secure data across different stakeholders, without involvement of intermediaries. Blockchain enables collection of everything of value from the point of initial manufacturing. When any data is captured, whether immediately relevant or not, it gets placed on the blockchain, and cannot be deleted. All participants on the chain are able to view the information through a web portal.

Blockchain technology, thus, is designed to be decentralized. Any information updated is a function of the whole network, and through encryption technology, blockchain removes the risk of hacking of centrally held data. This new verifying system is rendering redundant traditional processes and eliminating the middleman. As William Mougayar, said, Online identity and reputation will be decentralized. We will own the data that belongs to us.

Technology futurist, Ian Khan says, Blockchain truly is a mechanism to bring everyone to the highest degree of accountability. No more missed transactions, human or machine errors, or even an exchange that was not done with the consent of the parties involved.

Blockchain is, thus, an unrelenting force of decentralization and transparency. As physicist Albert Einstein once said, We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

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