#AItowards2040

In collaboration with the European Energy Forum

The European Union has set forth bold ambitions to lead globally in both digital innovation and climate action. Central to this vision is the development and uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) across sectors. While AI is recognized as a driver of innovation, productivity, and competitiveness, its potential role in supporting Europe’s climate and sustainability goals is equally compelling—and still underexplored.

The presentations aim to bridge that gap by examining how AI and the sustainable transition can mutually reinforce one another.

As Europe accelerates its digital transformation, questions are emerging about the environmental implications of AI itself. At the same time, AI is being hailed as a powerful tool to optimize energy systems, reduce emissions, and support the green transition. This discussion is convened to explore both sides of the equation: the environmental footprint of AI technologies, and their capacity to enable sustainability across sectors.The first part of the event will focus on demystifying the resource demands of AI. From the energy required for training of large models to the materials needed for hardware, we will explore the resources associated with AI development and deployment. Experts will share insights on how to measure and mitigate these impacts, and what it means for Europe’s digital and green strategies. In parallel, we will highlight the many ways AI can contribute to decarbonising other sectors. From optimizing logistics and industrial processes to enabling smarter agriculture and climate modelling, AI is already proving to be a valuable ally in the fight against climate change.

The second half of the event will zoom in on the interplay between AI and energy. A key question is how to ensure that AI systems themselves are powered by clean, sustainable energy sources. At the same time, AI can play a transformative role in making Europe’s energy system more efficient, resilient, and sustainable—through smart grids, demand forecasting, or real-time optimization among others.

This discussion will bring together the perspectives from both the digital and the energy world to explore opportunities and collaboration across sectors. By fostering open dialogue, we can help ensure that those two agendas support each other as Europe advances both toward its digital transformation and climate-neutral future.

• Programme

  Opening remarks

  Tsvetelina Penkova MEP and EIF Member

  Brando Benifei MEP and EIF Steering Committee Member

  Speakers

  Vincent Berrutto, Head of Unit, DG ENER, European Commission

  Mallika Ishwaran, Group Chief Economist, Shell International

  Thomas Spencer, Senior Energy Analyst, International Energy Agency

  Josh Parker, Head of Sustainability, NVIDIA

  Dr. Arti Garg, Chair of the Working Group on the Environmental Impacts of AI, IEEE

  Exchange of views with the participants under the Chatham House rule