ABSTRACT

The 21st century has introduced the technology of artificial intelligence, which is crucial to people’s lives. AI’s benefits and negative impacts are in the daily news. This editorial highlights the United Nations Conference of the Parties in 2026  (COP 31), and the Antalya Artificial Intelligence Pledge brought forward before the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) meeting in November 2026.

The pledge was announced by one of the COP 31 hosts, Turkey, before the commencement of the COP on November 9th. This provides an opportunity for COP Parties and Non-Party Stakeholders to recognize the importance of the pledge and take steps to adopt and implement its policies. 

This opinion sets the scene for a topic that is paramount for COP 31 and the use of AI technology following the United Nations event.

It is for countries and non-governmental stakeholders to monitor the use of artificial intelligence to balance its benefits for society with the use of the world’s resources.  The Antalya Artificial Intelligence Pledge is a starting point, but the story that unfolds will depend on how the world’s countries and their people employ the pledge.

 
  1. Introduction

This advisory opinion recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI)  has become embedded in the infrastructure of human activities. AI plays a role in daily activities, such as finance, data sharing, and service provision. In my academic world, AI will influence instruction, research, and the preparation of material for teaching and publication. This opinion addresses a broader perspective, assessing the benefits artificial intelligence can bring to climate change activities and the costs to the world’s resources to determine whether it is possible to balance the two. This commentary raises the issues but does not adopt a conclusion, leaving that for United Nations Conference of Parties (COP), and Non-Party Stakeholders to address at COP 31 and future Council of Party meetings.[1]

This opinion piece reviews the benefits and challenges Artificial Intelligence brings to the climate change space, one of the items to be discussed at COP 31 from November 9 to the 21st in Antalya, Turkey.  The author’s attendance at a symposium on Technology and Society at Rhodes House, in November 2026, looked at matters relating to the technology of artificial intelligence that raised important considerations that will be incorporated in this review regarding the benefits and detriments of AI technology, and the need to maintain a human element as Artificial Intelligence continues to advance.[2]

The Antalya Artificial Intelligence Pledge has a special role for society in determining how the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement can be implemented safely for the planet and its inhabitants. [3]

1.1        An Overview of Key Concepts

The Atalya Pledge can be understood by reviewing key concepts that connect AI development with ethics, climate action, environmental sustainability, and responsible technological innovation. First, it will ensure that AI is developed transparently and is accountable and fair to Party and Non-Governmental Stakeholders, with safeguards for human rights, privacy,  and social inclusion. The second looks at the use of AI for climate action. This will involve using AI to strengthen early warning systems, implementing climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, and monitoring disaster risk reduction. The third focuses on sustainability and AI’s footprint. This includes the need to measure the energy and water consumption of the data centers.  The fourth concept fits the multilateral nature of the United Nations and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) objectives. It sets out the need for international cooperation and inclusive access.

1.2   AI Technology and Benefits for Climate Change

The Pledge recognizes the benefits of using artificial intelligence to address climate change and its impacts. This includes mitigation, adaptation, resilience, accelerating climate policy implementation, and scaling up solutions put in place. Examples of the benefits include using artificial intelligence to assist with the development of energy grids and options for renewable power from wind and solar. It can help track emissions and methane leaks from oil and gas pipelines, which are reported as being more effective than human inspections.  It is also useful in developing fuel-saving transportation routes and efficient electricity for heating and cooling systems. Of significant benefit are AI  disaster prediction and early warning systems.[4]  Machine learning that produces results to meet climate issues will continue. This must be considered in the decisions which are made to advance AI. The  Atalya Artificial  Intelligence Pledge commits to moving from recognition of priorities to implementation, s acknowledging that this goal can be helped by using artificial intelligence tools.

1.3       The Concerns – AI’s Demands

The Pledge also recognizes the quest for climate solutions. This includes developing AI infrastructure, which demands rare earth minerals,  electricity, land,  and water. These demands require developing systems that are sustainable and comply with international agreements adopted to ensure fairness for all countries. These facilities must include e-waste facilities required to support this new technology. This requires private technology companies. International organizations and governments work together in developing and prioritizing circular -economy approaches to ensure that expansion of AI does not result in an unsustainable environmental burden on resource management. It is essential that the digital infrastructure of data centers is accompanied by electronic waste facilities and that these facilities are designed to maintain the balance between the benefits AI can bring to climate change action and sustainable development of Earth’s resources. One must not forget that finance, data sharing, and service provision each have a cost. This cost is more than economic. For example, it requires us to ask questions such as what needs to remain under human control, and how AI will shape what it means to be human.  What do we want to accept, and what do we consider too close to losing the authenticity of human creations or human dignity?

1.4       E-waste Facilities for AI Infrastructure Systems

Several facilities are essential to ensure environmental management. These include:

  • Facilities to collect obsolete computers, servers, processors, batteries, and electronic components used in data centers and by technology companies.
  • Centers to assess reuse, refurbishment, and recycling.
  • Dismantling and recovering valuable materials such as copper, silver, lithium, gold, and other critical minerals.
  • Hazardous E-waste and Treatment Facilities. E-Waste centers to ensure secure storage and transport systems to prevent contamination of materials collected, possible fire hazards, and improper disposal
  • Secure Data and Equipment Destruction Centers, including data collected about people.
  • Monitoring and Compliance Centers to oversee each of the above e-waste facilities and assess environmental impacts and compliance with national and international standards and regulations

2.     International Cooperation and Inclusive Access

The Antalya Artificial Intelligence Pledge goes beyond ethical AI. Its central purpose is to address both the environmental costs of AI as well as AI’s contribution to climate solutions. The four key concepts outlined above reflect the structure of the Antalya Pledge. They reflect that it is meant for all countries.

Terms of the pledge promote international partnerships, knowledge sharing, and capacity building so developing countries can access AI technologies and apply them to their climate challenges. The Pledge requires that AI be an inclusive process.

3.     Conclusions on the Policy and Scope of the Antalya Artificial Intelligence Pledge

The pledge is a voluntary instrument. Its impact is based on whether UNFCCC countries, countries outside COP 31, non-Party actors, and civil society follow its direction.  The Pledge is particularly significant because it encourages governments, international organizations, universities, and businesses to adopt the following procedures:

  • Make AI infrastructure more environmentally sustainable.
  • Integrate environmental responsibility into AI procurement and development.
  • Improve transparency through environmental measurement and reporting.
  • Direct AI innovation towards climate mitigation and adaptation, particularly for developing countries.

The Council of Parties meeting in Antalya, Turkey, in November 2026 and the Antalya AI Pledge provide a method to encourage global communities to implement the principles and objectives of the Paris Agreement and United Nations Framework on Climate Change treaties to address climate change.

  1. Conflict of Interest

The author is a co-editor of the Intergovernmental Research and Policy Journal. This article is an editorial opinion of the author, Charalee Graydon, and the views expressed in this publication are solely those of the author. The opinion does not reflect the views or policies of Euclid University, the editorial board of the Euclid Intergovernmental Research and Policy Journal,  or other institutions with which the author is affiliated.

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[1] Antalya Artificial Intelligence Pledge, accessed on November 4, 2026, https://af.net/realtime/turkiyes-cop31-presidency-launches-voluntary-ai-pledge-to-promote-low-emission-data-centers-and-global-support/.

[2] Rhodes House, Technology and Society symposium, accessed on November 8, 2026, https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/programmes-events/calendar-of-events/2026/november/rhodes-forum-on-technology-society-2026/.

[3]  United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), “The Paris Agreement,” accessed November 8, 2026, UNFCCC – The Paris Agreement.

[4] Victoria Masterson, Emerging Technologies, 9 ways AI is helping tackle climate change, https://www.weforum.org/stories/emerging-technologies/ai-combat-climate-change.