AI & Climate Change in Healthcare

Written by Eugene Song, PharmD, Class of 2027

 April 7, 2025

AI & Climate Change in Healthcare

Although artificial intelligence has provided tremendous solutions to health care and advancing scientific research, it also has a great environmental impact. The computational power required to provide an answer to an AI prompt is immense, which leads to increased carbon dioxide emissions and draws large amounts of electricity. In addition, a great deal of water is needed to cool down the machines and hardware that are used for generating AI. Both of these conditions put great strain on the environment. 

This article from the Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging published by Ueda, Walston, Fujita, and more, explores the impact of climate change and artificial intelligence in healthcare. It dives deep into the necessity to mitigate environmental impact with sustainable AI, policy, and governance in healthcare, and best practices moving forward into the new digital age. 

According to the European Journal of Public Health, the healthcare sector is responsible for 4.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are further exacerbated and increasing due to the role of large datasets needed to operate AI. Developing an energy-efficient AI model can help reduce the carbon footprint in the healthcare setting. The integration of renewable energy sources can significantly decrease the negative environmental impact of AI systems.

Robust policy and governance in healthcare are needed to ensure that responsible and sustainable practices are upheld. It is important to have policymakers collaborate with healthcare workers and industry to create a comprehensive framework to guide energy use in the AI sector. This field is still rapidly growing and needs further development. 

The best practices that this article defined are as follows: eco-design and lifecycle assessment, energy-efficient AI models, green computing infrastructure, responsible data management, collaborative research and knowledge sharing, continuous monitoring and improvement, sustainable procurement and disposal practices, education and awareness, regulatory compliance and reporting, and integration with broader sustainability initiatives. Managing these best practices provides environmental responsibility and long-term sustainability. Moving forward, it is imperative to continue these discussions to create and maintain a sustainable world.

References:

1. Health Care’s climate footprint: The Health Sector Contribution and opportunities for action | European Journal of Public Health | Oxford academic. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/30/Supplement_5/ckaa165.843/5914601.

2. Author links open overlay panelDaiju Ueda a b, a, b, et al. Climate change and artificial intelligence in Healthcare: Review and recommendations towards a sustainable future. Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging. June 24, 2024. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211568424001384.