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Research on AI: Ecology

This guide is designed to help students find scholarly research about the impact of AI across different disciplines, including sociology, psychology, education, economics, healthcare, and ecology.

Impact of AI on Ecology

Environment education day concept on Freepik

Starting Your Research

Researchers are enthusiastic about the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to help mitigate environmental concerns. Many believe that AI, if used properly, can play an integral role in environmental governance and sustainable development, especially in reducing carbon emissions. However, although AI can be used as a useful tool for ecology, it comes with a cost - its own massive carbon footprint. In summary, although AI offers promising benefits for environmental sustainability, it is vital to understand the associated risks and ensure that its use aligns with broader conservation and sustainability goals.

In this guide, you will find...

  • Articles to get you started in your research
  • "Hot topics" to help you choose a research topic
  • A pre-designed search in the library databases
  • Keywords to help you design your personalized search string
  • A link to the library's new AI research assistant
  • Links to some of the library's specialized databases

Image by Environment Education Day Concept on Freepik

Internet Resources

Many environmental initiatives, global organizations, and international laboratories post reliable information regarding AI and the environment, which can be found for free on the internet. A few are listed here:

Hot Topics & Keywords

Hot Topics

  • AI's massive carbon footprint
  • AI and environmental sustainability
  • Climate Modeling & Prediction
  • Biodiversity Monitoring

Keywords

("Artificial Intelligence" OR AI) AND

  • Ecology
  • Environment
  • Biodiversity
  • Sustainability
  • Ecosystem
  • Conservation
  • Climate
  • "Climate change"
  • "Carbon footprint"
  • "Disaster response"

Impact on Ecology - Articles

July 18, 2023 | Kanungo, Alokya
 

The Green Dilemma

 


September 21, 2024 | UNEP

AI Has an Environmental Problem. Here’s What the World Can Do About That.

 

October 10, 2024 | Yao, Yuan

Can We Mitigate AI’s Environmental Impacts?

 


April 22, 2025 | U.S. Government Accountability Office

Artificial Intelligence: Generative AI's Environmental & Human Effects

 

Photo by Immo Wegmann on UnsplashFebruary 1, 2024 | 118th Congress of the United States

S.3732 - Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2024

 


 

What Uses More

What Uses More logo

  • Use this digital tool to get an idea of how much water and energy are used by common digital tasks.

Library Databases

Brand Resources - ExLibris Primo Logo

Below, find a pre-designed search on the impact of AI on the environment in the library's database discovery service, Primo:


Check out these library databases for more scholarly articles and resources on AI and ecology:

Primo Research Assistant

This guide will help you learn to navigate the library's new AI assistant, the Primo Research Assistant:

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