Supported by the Fondation Abeona, ENS-PSL, Obvia and Université Laval, the Chair exemplifies the strength of international scientific cooperation in addressing the major societal challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
On June 9, the international conference AI’s Environmental Impacts – Where Do We Go From Here? brought together researchers, representatives of international organizations, governments, businesses and civil society at the École normale supérieure – PSL in Paris to discuss an issue that has become central to the development of AI and is increasingly prominent on the scientific agenda: the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence. Organized at the initiative of Sasha Luccioni, the 2025–2026 Chairholder of the Social Justice and Artificial Intelligence Research Chair – Fondation Abeona / ENS-PSL / Obvia / Université Laval, the event builds on the work carried out by the Chair since 2019 on the conditions required for responsible, equitable and sustainable AI development.
Models, Hardware, Energy and Regulation: A 360-Degree Approach to the Environmental Impacts of AI
From silicon to public policy, from measurement to action, the conference sought to move beyond the sole question of energy consumption in order to grasp the full complexity of AI’s environmental impacts across the entire value chain. The day brought together a diversity of perspectives: researchers who measure, companies that deploy, regulators who establish frameworks, and activists who challenge the status quo. Presentations by Emma Strubell (Carnegie Mellon University), Sophia Falk (University of Bonn), Siddharth Singh (International Energy Agency) and Philipp Hacker (European New School of Digital Studies), along with the panel discussions, highlighted several shared findings :
- Transparency remains a critical issue. Available data on the energy consumption and emissions of AI systems remain fragmented, calling for harmonized measurement standards and stronger disclosure requirements—an area in which Europe is taking a leading role.
- Efficiency alone will not be enough: sufficiency is emerging as a structural lever. Efficiency gains in AI models are largely being offset by the explosive growth in their use. This rebound effect calls for rethinking demand itself, rather than focusing solely on technical optimization.
- Beyond carbon: a broader understanding of impacts. Water consumption, critical resources and the toxicological impacts of hardware manufacturing: a full life-cycle analysis reveals dimensions that remain significantly underestimated or overlooked in conventional assessments.
- A question of social and distributive justice. The environmental and health costs of AI are often borne by communities—including those in the Global South—that do not benefit from its returns. This observation lies at the heart of the Chair’s mandate: to examine AI through the lens of justice.
The day—which asked, Where do we go from here?—concluded with a forward-looking discussion imagining what sustainable AI might look like forty years from now. Efficient, specialized models deployed according to genuine needs; applications whose benefits outweigh their costs across the entire life cycle; economic gains redistributed more broadly; and data centres becoming drivers of energy-transition financing: these are among the possible horizons that can transform an urgent diagnosis into a roadmap for action.
Seven Years of Transatlantic Research: A Review of the Social Justice and Artificial Intelligence Research Chair
Established in 2019 by Obvia, the Fondation Abeona and the École normale supérieure – PSL, the Chair is reflecting on an exceptional body of work carried out between Paris and Quebec. By placing social justice at the heart of digital technology, the Chair has emerged as a successful model of scientific diplomacy for advancing responsible, equitable and sustainable AI. Since its creation, it has enabled several visiting professors to work at the intersection of the Parisian and Quebec research ecosystems.
Seven Years of Research on the Major Societal Challenges of Digital Technology
The Chair’s trajectory reflects a remarkable ability to anticipate and address technological developments through a number of critical research areas :
- Bias and systemic inequalities: pioneering research led by Kate Crawford (2019–2020) on bias in AI systems;
- Citizen Governance: Analysis of the realities of marginalized communities and the conditions required for effective governance, led by Karine Gentelet (2020-2022);
- Data Sharing and Governance for the Public Interest led by Anne-Sophie Hulin (2022-2023);
- Environmental Impacts : Development of standards for measuring the ecological impacts of AI led by Sasha Luccioni (2025-2026).
Over the years, this dynamic has produced numerous edited volumes, influential academic publications, as well as seminar series and international conferences. It has also played a key role in supporting the next generation of researchers on both sides of the Atlantic.
A Successful Example of Scientific Diplomacy
For Obvia, this partnership with the Fondation Abeona and the École normale supérieure – PSL demonstrates the value of interdisciplinary and transnational collaboration. The ideas, networks and research communities built through this initiative will continue to inform research, public debate and policymaking on both sides of the Atlantic in the years to come.
« Our commitment to building bridges and collaborating across borders has always been the driving force behind this initiative. The work accomplished demonstrates that collective research remains the only path toward fairer AI. This collaborative momentum will continue to inspire our future commitments. »
-Lyse Langlois, Executive Director of Obvia
About Obvia
Obvia — International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology is an interuniversity research network supported by the Fonds de recherche du Québec. Its mission is to anticipate, analyze and help address the societal transformations brought about by AI and digital technologies, guided by the principles of responsibility, inclusivity and the common good. In collaboration with public-sector stakeholders, industry, developers and civil society, Obvia’s research community produces open knowledge and supports the strengthening of individual and collective capabilities.
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