SCEWC side event: "The AI Environmental Footprint. Between hidden costs and green opportunities"
Bringing together a cross-disciplinary panel of experts, this side event organised in the frame of the Smart City Expo World Congress will offer a critical space to examine the promises and pitfalls of AI in urban environments.
Fira Barcelona, Gran Via Venue, Av. Joan Carles I, 64, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. Side Event, Level 1 (Conference Center), Zone CC1 – Room 1.4
CIDOB, with the support of the Barcelona City Council and the Cities Coalition for Digital Rights (CC4DR), co-funded by the CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) programme of the European Commission in the framework of the DigiDem-EU project
Artificial intelligence is no longer an abstract concept hovering on the horizon—it is becoming an integral part of the urban landscape. Across the globe, cities are integrating AI systems into daily operations, from adaptive traffic signals and predictive maintenance of infrastructure to climate-responsive architecture and real-time air quality monitoring. These innovations promise to transform how cities function, making them more efficient, resilient, and responsive to the complex challenges of urban life in the 21st century.
This session explores the dual nature of artificial intelligence in the context of sustainable urban development. On one hand, AI holds enormous potential to support climate action: reducing carbon emissions through optimized energy systems, streamlining public transportation networks, enabling smarter waste management, and enhancing environmental monitoring. On the other hand, the widespread deployment of AI systems comes with significant environmental and societal costs that are often overlooked. The high energy consumption of data centers, the carbon footprint of developing and maintaining AI infrastructure, algorithmic bias that can exacerbate inequalities, and unequal access to AI-driven services are just a few of the sustainability challenges that demand urgent attention.
As cities around the world race to adopt smart technologies, it is crucial to ask: Are we truly building greener cities, or are we inadvertently creating a new layer of environmental and social complexity? How can policymakers, technologists, and urban communities ensure that AI contributes meaningfully to sustainability goals rather than undermining them?
Bringing together a cross-disciplinary panel of experts, this session will offer a critical space to examine the promises and pitfalls of AI in urban environments. Speakers will reflect on real-world applications, share emerging research, and engage the audience in discussions about responsible AI governance, inclusive digital innovation, and climate-aligned technology development.
Through this dialogue, organised by CIDOB with the support of the Barcelona City Council and the Cities Coalition for Digital Rights (CC4DR) and co-funded by the CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) programme of the European Commission in the framework of the DigiDem-EU project, participants will gain deeper insight into the sustainability paradox of urban AI and leave equipped with actionable pathways toward implementation that is not only intelligent but just, equitable, and ecologically sound.
Key objectives of the session:
Examine the dual impact of AI in Urban Contexts
Interrogate the environmental footprint of AI technologies
Promote responsible AI governance in cities
Empower participants with actionable strategies based on the Global Observatory of Urban Artificial Intelligence
Participantes
Marta Galceran Vercher
Constanza Gómez Mont
Julen Imana Sobrino
Patrick Maurelli
