3 days ago
Disruptive tech delivers mixed results for environmental sustainability
Forrester has released a new report examining the mixed effects of disruptive technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) on environmental sustainability.
The report, titled Jekyll And Hyde: The Dual Role of Disruptive Technologies in Sustainability , addresses how these technologies are increasingly influencing efforts to address climate change, while simultaneously presenting complex sustainability challenges for businesses and policymakers.
Report findings
The study explores how six significant disruptive technologies will impact sustainability objectives through 2025. Analysts note that while automation and AI can generate improvements in efficiency and environmental monitoring, these same technologies may also lead to higher energy usage, potential inefficiencies, and issues related to data security and unpredictability in AI systems.
IoT is identified as valuable for its capabilities in monitoring and optimising processes, but it also creates concerns regarding electronic waste, overall carbon footprint, and the management of battery disposal.
With respect to advanced data centres, the report highlights positive trends in making AI operations more efficient, thanks to techniques such as liquid cooling, heat reuse, and modular design. However, it notes that these centres may require more energy, generate additional electronic waste, and increase reliance on rare materials, adding further stress to global supply chains.
Autonomous mobility technologies, including drones, delivery robots, and truck platoons, are helping streamline transportation and logistics. Yet, analysts caution that such innovations could exacerbate vehicle proliferation and resource stress, driven by reduced operational costs.
Dual effects "Disruptive technologies such as automation, AI, and autonomous mobility can boost environmental sustainability, but they can also work against it, creating a true Jekyll-and-Hyde duality that leaders must manage," said Abhijit Sunil, Senior Analyst at Forrester.
Sunil noted that the core challenge is to take advantage of the optimisation potential these technologies offer, while also managing their long-term lifecycle and resource impacts. "The challenge lies in maximizing the optimization potential of these technologies while actively managing their lifecycle impacts and resource intensity," he added.
Lifecycle management
Sunil elaborated on these complexities in a recent blog post, providing further detail on both the sustainability benefits and complications introduced by disruptive technologies. "Disruptive technologies (referring to automation, AI, and autonomous mobility) bring high compute demands, increased electronic waste, reliance on critical raw materials, complications to the supply chain, and substantial infrastructure required for deployment. But these disruptive technologies also boost environmental sustainability if used in savvy ways. They enhance energy and resource efficiency, support climate resilience and compliance, enable real-time tracking of environmental KPIs, enable new sustainable business models and products, and advance conservation efforts."
The report positions AI as particularly impactful for transforming sustainability reporting processes. Automation of data analysis, alignment of disclosures with regulations, and tailored reporting for different stakeholders all stand out as notable improvements. AI is also linked to core sustainability initiatives such as climate risk forecasting, energy usage optimisation, reduction of emissions, and strengthening resilience in supply chains.
However, the study warns that such benefits come with trade-offs, especially regarding energy and water consumption required to train, cool, and operate large AI models. The impact is described as potentially significant in regions already facing resource constraints. "An immediate positive of AI is that it transforms sustainability reporting by automating data analysis, aligning disclosures with regulatory frameworks, and customizing content for diverse stakeholders. Beyond reporting, AI can support core sustainability initiatives such as climate risk forecasting, energy optimization, emissions reduction, and supply chain resilience. But AI also introduces significant environmental challenges. The water demand to cool and energy to train and run large models raise concerns about resource use, especially in constrained regions. As AI adoption accelerates, sustainability and technology leaders have a critical role to play in guiding its use."
The Forrester report underscores the importance for businesses to approach these technologies with a balanced perspective, considering both their positive and negative environmental effects, in order to ensure long-term compliance with environmental regulations and sustainability goals.
