From detecting fraud to automating everyday tasks, AI technology is reshaping our world. Despite that, its impact on the environment has become a pressing concern. In response, DataNorth AI, a leading Dutch artificial intelligence consulting firm, is taking action. In partnership with Trees for All, the company has developed the CO2 Compensation Program for AI, a service that offers its clients the possibility to offset their CO2 footprint by planting trees. All based on their AI usage.
AI’s Environmental Impact: A Double-Edged Sword
Artificial intelligence has emerged as a powerful tool for addressing several environmental challenges. AI systems can optimize energy consumption, reduce waste, and enhance sustainable practices across various industries. For instance, UNEP uses AI to track methane emissions from oil and gas sites, a major factor in climate change. Another example of climate modeling is Microsoft’s AI for Earth program. It supports projects using AI to monitor forest health, track wildlife, and predict extreme weather events.
The development and operation of AI systems also come with environmental costs. AI systems, particularly large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s GPT-4, are known for their substantial energy requirements. Training these AI models involves extensive computational processes that consume significant amounts of electricity, leading to high CO2 emissions. For instance, GPT-4 was estimated to emit over 6912 metric tons of carbon dioxide during its training phase. This is the equivalent of powering more than 1300 houses for one year.
Trees as the Way to Sustainable AI
To mitigate the company’s and its clients carbon footprint, DataNorth has taken a proactive approach by partnering with Trees for All, a renowned organization dedicated to global reforestation efforts. Together, they will offer to improve the environmental impact of their clients, by planting enough trees to offset CO2 emissions based on the exact AI usage.
“At DataNorth, we believe in utilizing the power of artificial intelligence responsibly,” said Menno Fokkema, CEO of DataNorth. “Our partnership with Trees for All allows us to compensate for the CO2 emissions associated with our clients’ AI usage while contributing to global reforestation efforts.”
In addition to offering clients the option to offset the CO2 footprint of their AI usage, DataNorth follows sustainable practices in its own operations. The company uses data centers in central and northern Europe where renewable energy is prioritized, unlike many U.S. data centers that rely more on fossil fuels.
How It Works
The CO2 Compensation Program for AI is a service developed to neutralize DataNorth’s clients’ carbon footprint. Based on the number of LLM tokens used, the CO2 emissions are calculated and a corresponding number of trees will be planted through Trees for All.
For example, research shows that processing 10 million queries (~200–500 million tokens) in ChatGPT generates around 43,200 kg of CO2 emissions. If a client’s solution generates 50 million queries (~1 billion tokens) per year, it would result in approximately 300 kg of CO2 (with each 1,000 tokens producing roughly 0.3 grams of CO2). Trees for All will then calculate how many trees are needed—considering factors like tree type, location, and age—and manage the planting accordingly.
This approach not only offsets carbon emissions but also supports biodiversity and local communities in reforestation areas. DataNorth’s clients can now use cutting-edge AI solutions along with the option to compensate for them, and directly contribute to environmental conservation. VerzuimConsult, a consultancy firm aiding employers with absenteeism and one of DataNorth’s clients, has already taken a step towards this green initiative. “Just like many other organizations, we are exploring how AI can contribute to an improved customer experience. Throughout this journey, we remain committed to our vision of sustainability. DataNorth supports us in this endeavor by calculating CO2 emissions and actively offsetting them.” says Gelbrich Sijtsma, Managing Director at VerzuimConsult. The growing demand for sustainable business practices and global boom in artificial intelligence usage means that the time to take environmental action, for those who haven’t yet, is right now.
Who is DataNorth?
DataNorth AI, a sister organization of Klippa, is a consulting firm that empowers organizations to explore the full potential of artificial intelligence. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Groningen, Netherlands, DataNorth offers a range of services including AI strategy development, custom AI solutions, and AI workshops. With a team of experienced AI experts, the company is committed to making advanced AI capabilities accessible to businesses of all sizes across various industries.
