Artificial intelligence presents a profound paradox in the global pursuit of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. The same technologies that offer powerful new tools to accelerate progress in areas like climate action, health, and education also carry significant risks that could hinder or even reverse gains. From improving agricultural yields to monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, AI’s potential is undeniable; yet, its massive energy consumption and capacity to deepen societal inequalities pose a direct challenge to the core principles of sustainable development.
This dual impact forces a critical examination of how AI is developed and deployed. The central issue is no longer whether AI is relevant to sustainability, but how to govern its application to reduce costs, improve decision-making, and expand access without exacerbating the very problems the SDGs aim to solve. Research shows that while AI could positively affect 134 of the SDG targets, it may actively undermine 59 of them. Achieving a net positive impact requires a balanced approach that harnesses AI’s benefits while actively mitigating its inherent economic, social, and environmental costs, from algorithmic bias to the carbon footprint of data centers.
Accelerating Environmental Progress
One of AI’s most promising applications is in addressing environmental challenges, particularly those related to climate change and resource management. Machine learning algorithms excel at analyzing vast and complex datasets, allowing for more accurate climate modeling and disaster prediction. These systems can forecast the paths of wildfires, monitor deforestation in real time, and track emissions with a level of detail previously unattainable, providing crucial information for policymakers and first responders. This analytical power directly supports Climate Action (SDG 13) by improving our understanding of environmental changes and our ability to respond to them.
Beyond monitoring, AI is being deployed to optimize the systems that consume the most resources. It plays a key role in developing smarter and more efficient energy grids, balancing power supply and demand to accommodate renewable energy sources. In manufacturing and logistics, AI streamlines supply chains to reduce food and material waste, contributing to Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12). By enhancing the energy efficiency of buildings and transportation networks, artificial intelligence provides practical tools to decarbonize critical sectors of the economy and promote the development of circular economies that minimize waste.
A Double-Edged Sword for Social Equity
Advances in Health and Education
In the social sphere, AI is making significant inroads in health care and education, addressing key targets within SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education). In medicine, AI-powered diagnostic tools are enhancing the accuracy of identifying diseases and making specialized expertise more accessible, a crucial advantage in underserved and remote regions. By analyzing medical data, AI can help create personalized treatment plans and accelerate pharmaceutical research. In education, adaptive learning platforms use AI to tailor instructional materials to individual student needs, offering personalized support at a massive scale and helping to bridge attainment gaps.
Risks of Algorithmic Bias
Despite these benefits, AI also poses a serious threat to social equity. The algorithms at the heart of AI systems are trained on vast amounts of data, and if this data reflects existing societal biases, the AI will learn and perpetuate them. This can lead to discriminatory outcomes that undermine efforts to achieve Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10). For example, biased algorithms in hiring software could systematically disadvantage female candidates, while flawed AI in the justice system could reinforce existing racial or social prejudices. A systematic review of academic studies revealed that while AI shows strong potential for economic goals, its implementation often neglects or negatively impacts goals related to social equity.
Transforming Global Economies and Industries
Boosting Innovation and Growth
Artificial intelligence is a powerful engine for economic development, directly supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). In the industrial sector, AI enhances performance by automating repetitive tasks, reducing errors, and lowering operational costs. Predictive maintenance, powered by machine learning, allows companies to fix machinery before it breaks, increasing efficiency and reducing downtime. This boosts productivity and competitiveness, fostering innovation and creating new job opportunities for AI experts and data scientists.
The Looming Threat of Job Displacement
The economic benefits of AI are coupled with the significant societal challenge of job displacement. The same automation that increases efficiency also threatens to replace human workers in a wide range of industries, from manufacturing to customer service. This could lead to widespread unemployment and economic disruption, placing immense pressure on social safety nets and potentially worsening inequality. The transition requires careful management, including robust programs for retraining and upskilling the workforce to prepare for the new jobs created in an AI-driven economy. Without proactive measures, the economic gains from AI could be concentrated in the hands of a few, while many are left behind.
The Hidden Costs of a Digital Revolution
AI’s Insatiable Energy Appetite
A major and often overlooked consequence of the AI boom is its enormous energy consumption. Training large-scale AI models requires immense computational power, which is supplied by energy-intensive data centers. Many of these facilities still rely heavily on fossil fuels, creating a significant carbon footprint that works directly against climate goals. The scale of this consumption is staggering; training a single generative AI model can emit as much carbon dioxide as five cars over their entire lifetimes. This energy thirst is particularly concerning at a time when global emissions continue to rise and only 17% of SDG targets are on track, according to a 2024 UN report.
E-Waste and Data Governance Challenges
The rapid evolution of AI technology contributes to another environmental problem: electronic waste. The demand for more powerful hardware leads to the quick obsolescence of older chips and servers, creating a growing stream of discarded electronics that are difficult to recycle. Furthermore, the data that fuels AI raises critical ethical questions about privacy and security, which are central to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Ensuring that personal data is governed responsibly and that AI systems are secure from misuse is a fundamental challenge that must be addressed to build public trust and ensure that the technology serves the common good.
Forging a Path for Responsible Development
To ensure that artificial intelligence becomes a net positive for sustainable development, a robust framework of governance and regulation is essential. Ethical principles and voluntary codes of conduct are helpful, but they are insufficient without regulatory clarity and dependable funding to ensure those principles are put into practice. Governments and international bodies are beginning to develop regulatory frameworks, such as the European Union’s AI Act, to manage the technology’s risks. One critical step is to establish core digital access—including devices, connectivity, and computational power—as a civil right, ensuring that communities are not systematically excluded from the benefits of AI.
Ultimately, the trajectory of AI’s impact on the SDGs will depend on human choices. Technology itself is neutral; its effects are determined by how it is designed, funded, governed, and measured. To truly assist the SDGs, AI must be developed with, for, and by the people whose lives it will transform. The most important work remains fundamentally human: exercising sound judgment, demonstrating political will, and building social trust. Applied with care and foresight, AI can be a powerful tool to expand what is knowable and actionable for sustainable development, helping to accelerate progress where it has stalled and illuminate paths that were previously unexplored.
