BackEnvironmental risk
Environmental risk
Risk Domain
The development and operation of AI systems causing environmental harm, such as through energy consumption of data centers, or material and carbon footprints associated with AI hardware.
"AI models are often trained using large amounts of computation. This process is very energy intensive, potentially leading to significant greenhouse emissions depending on the energy sources [132]. Experts believe drastically increasing carbon emissions could accelerate climate change, which may constitute a catastrophic risk [133]."(p. 12)
Entity— Who or what caused the harm
Intent— Whether the harm was intentional or accidental
Timing— Whether the risk is pre- or post-deployment
Other risks from Chin (2025) (5)
CBRN
4.2 Cyberattacks, weapon development or use, and mass harmHumanIntentionalPost-deployment
Cyber offense
4.2 Cyberattacks, weapon development or use, and mass harmOtherIntentionalPost-deployment
Sudden loss of control
7.1 AI pursuing its own goals in conflict with human goals or valuesAI systemOtherPost-deployment
Gradual loss of control
5.2 Loss of human agency and autonomyOtherUnintentionalOther
Geopolitical risk
6.4 Competitive dynamicsOtherUnintentionalOther