“The earth is not ours; it is a treasure we hold in trust for our children.” — African proverb
I had a sharp discussion with a humanist leader. My humanist colleague is a strong promoter of environmental justice and, according to her, it’s wrong to promote Artificial Intelligence because it’s harmful to individuals and to the environment. She is deeply convinced that AI is the enemy of humankind.
This article aims to deepen the discussion on environmental justice in the age of intelligent machines.
Why AI is seen as a danger to the environment?
AI has become a symbol of both promise and risk. Critics raise three major concerns:
Energy consumption: Training large AI systems requires enormous computing power, which consumes electricity. If that electricity comes from fossil fuels, it increases carbon emissions. Data centres already account for a large and growing share of global energy use. A single large AI training process can emit as much carbon as multiple transatlantic flights.
Electronic waste: Rapid technological upgrades lead to discarded servers, chips, and devices. Improper disposal releases toxic materials into soil and water, often in low-income regions.
Resource extraction: Producing advanced technology requires minerals such as cobalt and lithium, often mined in conditions that harm ecosystems and communities.
What is the truth?
This criticism is not entirely misplaced — but it is incomplete. Technology itself is not the enemy: how we design and use it determines its environmental impact. Just as industrial machinery once polluted rivers but later helped clean them through treatment plants, AI can either worsen environmental harm or become a powerful tool for sustainability.
How technology can protect the environment
When guided by environmental justice principles, technology can become a force for restoration:
Smart environment monitoring: AI can track deforestation, illegal fishing, and pollution in real time using satellite data. Today several African nations use radar and GLAD alerts for detecting and combatting deforestation. In Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Chad, Gabon, Cameroon, DRC, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea, satellite monitoring helps detect illegal logging early, protecting forests and biodiversity.
Climate-smart agriculture: Sensors and predictive analytics help farmers use less water and fertilizer while increasing yields. Digital irrigation systems in Kenya and Uganda reduce water use while improving crop productivity. Sadly, they are only accessed by a few wealthy farmers who can afford the cost.
Renewable energy optimization: AI can improve energy grids by predicting demand, storing surplus power, and distributing electricity efficiently — reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Disaster prediction and response: Machine learning models can forecast floods, droughts, and heatwaves, enabling early action that saves lives and ecosystems.
Saving the environment
I know rather a number of people who claim to be pro-environment protection activists – but it’s all talk. Environmental justice must move from theory to daily action. Here are realistic steps individuals, institutions, and governments can adopt:
Use responsible technology: Support companies that use renewable energy for data centres. Encourage companies to be more environmental driven in their production process by extending the lifespan of devices rather than replacing them frequently.
Promote digital sustainability: Reduce unnecessary data storage and streaming. Encourage schools and workplaces to adopt green IT policies.
Support community-driven solutions: Environmental justice requires listening to those most affected.Local clean-water initiatives led by communities often work better than externally imposed projects because they reflect lived realities. This approach should be respected and promoted.
Integrate technology with local knowledge: Traditional ecological knowledge — such as crop rotation or communal forest protection — can be strengthened with modern tools rather than replaced by them.
Advocate for fair environmental policies: Citizens can influence decision-makers to ensure that renewable projects, waste management, and urban development benefit all communities, not only wealthy ones.
Conclusion
Environmental justice is ultimately about stewardship — of land, resources, and each other. Artificial intelligence and modern technology stand at a crossroads. Left unchecked, they may accelerate environmental harm. Guided by ethical responsibility and inclusive policies, they can help humanity protect the planet more effectively than ever before.
Humanism stresses the value in being ethical even when doing business. The future of environmental justice will not be determined by machines alone, but by the values we embed within them. If we treat the earth as a shared inheritance rather than a disposable asset, technology can become not a threat, but a powerful ally in safeguarding the world for generations to come.
By Kato Mukasa