In the News Teaching Activity – is big tech causing environmental damage? (May 2024)

Mariana Mazzucato argues that the ‘cloud’ data centres are huge consumers of non-renewable resources and that, despite big tech helping to enable moves towards net zero, it has its own huge environmental costs.

The tech industry's vast data centres consume enormous energy; the emissions of big tech exceed those from the high polluting commercial flights. Innovations like AI models and the "cloud" are significantly straining the globe’s scarce natural resources, with extensive water usage for cooling machines. Additionally, minerals such as lithium and cobalt, are extracted for datacentre batteries further impacting the environment and human rights, both in a negative way. Mazzucato argues that policymakers must enforce transparency and accountability to ensure the promotion of more sustainable practices. She points of that balancing technological progress with environmental stewardship requires a comprehensive, systemic approach to prevent exacerbating climate challenges.

The ugly truth behind ChatGPT: AI is guzzling resources at planet-eating rates | Mariana Mazzucato | The Guardian

1 According to the article, what are the negative environmental costs of big tech industries?

2 Using an MSB/MSC diagram, show how big tech is causing overuse of the globe’s natural resources.

3 Mazzucato argues that ‘balancing technological progress with environmental stewardship requires a comprehensive, systemic approach to prevent exacerbating climate challenges.’ Discuss how this could be achieved in practice.