If AI grows without clean energy, it could increase emissions. With clean electricity and strong regulations, AI can support climate goals rather than harm them.

Currently, France uses artificial intelligence (AI) in energy, weather, and environmental monitoring. For example, AI is used in tracking climate and pollution within the following companies:

• Météo-France uses AI to improve weather and heatwave forecasts. This helps warn people earlier during extreme events and better understand temperature changes.
• CNES (the French space agency) uses satellite imagery and AI to monitor forests, floods, and land use. This helps detect environmental damage and climate impacts faster.
• RTE (the electricity grid operator) uses AI to predict electricity demand and renewable production (wind and solar). This helps reduce the use of fossil fuels in grid management.

AI is also used to help reduce emissions:

• AI helps optimize transport routes and energy use in buildings and factories, which lowers CO₂ emissions.
• In agriculture, AI tools guide irrigation and fertilizer use, reducing pollution and saving water.

While AI uses large amounts of electricity, primarily from data centers, France is working to limit its impact. This is due to the country’s energy mix being primarily nuclear and renewable, resulting in low-carbon electricity.

New rules push data centers to save energy and reuse heat for nearby buildings. Suppose AI is powered by low-carbon electricity and used to cut emissions. AI can help France meet its Paris Agreement goals by improving climate data, better managing energy, and supporting renewable energy. But if AI grows without clean energy, it could increase emissions. With clean electricity and strong regulations, AI can support climate goals rather than harm them.

This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard France Country Manager, Camille Huret.