Sustainable AI: AI for sustainability and the sustainability of AI

Ecological Integrity ◽

Idea Generation ◽

Computing Power ◽

Sociotechnical System ◽

Societal Values ◽

Development Goals ◽

Definition Of

AbstractWhile there is a growing effort towards AI for Sustainability (e.g. towards the sustainable development goals) it is time to move beyond that and to address the sustainability of developing and using AI systems. In this paper I propose a definition of Sustainable AI; Sustainable AI is a movement to foster change in the entire lifecycle of AI products (i.e. idea generation, training, re-tuning, implementation, governance) towards greater ecological integrity and social justice. As such, Sustainable AI is focused on more than AI applications; rather, it addresses the whole sociotechnical system of AI. I have suggested here that Sustainable AI is not about how to sustain the development of AI per say but it is about how to develop AI that is compatible with sustaining environmental resources for current and future generations; economic models for societies; and societal values that are fundamental to a given society. I have articulated that the phrase Sustainable AI be understood as having two branches; AI for sustainability and sustainability of AI (e.g. reduction of carbon emissions and computing power). I propose that Sustainable AI take sustainable development at the core of its definition with three accompanying tensions between AI innovation and equitable resource distribution; inter and intra-generational justice; and, between environment, society, and economy. This paper is not meant to engage with each of the three pillars of sustainability (i.e. social, economic, environment), and as such the pillars of sustainable AI. Rather, this paper is meant to inspire the reader, the policy maker, the AI ethicist, the AI developer to connect with the environment—to remember that there are environmental costs to AI. Further, to direct funding towards sustainable methods of AI.

Local communities, health and the sustainable development goals: the case of Ribeirão das Neves, Brazil

Cadernos Metrópole ◽

10.1590/2236-9996.2016-3603 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (36) ◽

pp. 365-375 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Viviane H. França ◽

Ulisses E. C. Confalonieri

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Local Communities ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Development Agenda ◽

Validated Questionnaire ◽

Poor Households ◽

Development Goals ◽

Definition Of

Abstract Health is part of the Sustainable Development Agenda adopted by the United Nations and local communities have an important role in the definition of their own development needs and in the discussion of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. A field survey using a validated questionnaire was applied to 336 extremely poor households in a Brazilian municipality. The survey was a cross-sectional and observational study and included interviews with healthcare professionals and social workers. Drug/alcohol abuse was pointed as the major problem to obtain improvements in quality of life. The prevalence of disability was 14%. A reduction in rates of deaths caused by crimes and prevention of disabilities should be included as health targets under the SDGs.

Factoring Future Generations Into Universities' Strategic Intent: Could a Law Help?

Frontiers in Sustainability ◽

10.3389/frsus.2021.643244 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Jane Davidson

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Generations ◽

Strategic Intent ◽

Development Goals ◽

Definition Of ◽

The University ◽

Legal Mechanism

Wales is the first country in the world to have put into law the protection of future generations through its Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015; the first country to have a legal mechanism through the Act to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals and the first country to have put the Brundtland definition of sustainable development into law. What does this mean for the values taught in Welsh universities, and how can the university role be repurposed in the interests of future generations? Building on her research for the book #futuregen: Lessons from a Small Country which was published this year, Jane Davidson, who, in her previous role as Minister in Welsh Government, proposed what is now the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, will explore the opportunities from this new values framework to transform the university sector, in particular, the student experience in Wales, and whether there are further lessons that would be valuable elsewhere.

Menjaga Keamanan Negara Menurut Perspektif Maqāsid Syariah Serta Hubungannya Dengan Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari [Sustainable Development Goals]: Kajian Di Malaysia (National Peace Preservation According to the Maqāsid Syariah Perspective and its Relations to the Sustainable Development Goals [Sustainable Development Studies]: A Study In Malaysia)

UMRAN - International Journal of Islamic and Civilizational Studies ◽

10.11113/umran2020.7n1.375 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 33-47

Author(s):

Faezy Adenan ◽

Asmak Ab Rahman

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Strong Relationship ◽

Library Research ◽

The People ◽

Five Elements ◽

Development Goals ◽

Definition Of ◽

General Guidance

Peace is an invaluable asset to ensure the prosperity and harmony of a nation. With the existence of peace, the people in a nation can carry out their respective responsibilities and roles perfectly, which consequently further enhance the nation prosperity. There are numbers of Western orientalists suggested that Islam is a religion that advocates violence. While in actuality, Islam uphold the preservation of peace and security at the utmost importance. This calls for a comprehensive argument to properly present the adherence of Islam towards maintaining harmony and prosperity. Therefore, the objective of this study is to highlight the existence of peace preservation in the Islamic concept of Maqāsid Syariah and draw the similarity on the definition of peace in Maqāsid Syariah with UN Guidelines for Sustainable Development Goals (Sustainable Development Goals). The research adopted library research methodology to accentuate the concept of peace preservation in the five elements of Maqāsid Syariah by using textual and contextual analysis on available literature pertaining the subject matter. The results show that the peace preservation of the nation is an integral piece in the concept of Maqāsid Syariah. National peace preservation is the key to maintain the five elements of Maqāsid Syariah which are religion, intellect, self, heritage and wealth. In addition, Maqāsid Syariah delineates peace keeping at the highest priority in maslaḥah requirement. Furthermore, Maqāsid Syariah demonstrates a compelling correlation in its definition of peace with the characteristic sustainable development goals (SDCs) outlined by the United Nations (UN). The importance of this study is to give a general guidance on preservation and maintenance of national peace according to the shariah objectives, which have a strong relationship among them.

AI in Context and the Sustainable Development Goals: Factoring in the Unsustainability of the Sociotechnical System

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13041738 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1738

Author(s):

Henrik Skaug Sætra

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Large Data ◽

Large Data Sets ◽

Data Sets ◽

Political Systems ◽

Sociotechnical System ◽

Development Goals ◽

Negative Impacts

Artificial intelligence (AI) is associated with both positive and negative impacts on both people and planet, and much attention is currently devoted to analyzing and evaluating these impacts. In 2015, the UN set 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), consisting of environmental, social, and economic goals. This article shows how the SDGs provide a novel and useful framework for analyzing and categorizing the benefits and harms of AI. AI is here considered in context as part of a sociotechnical system consisting of larger structures and economic and political systems, rather than as a simple tool that can be analyzed in isolation. This article distinguishes between direct and indirect effects of AI and divides the SDGs into five groups based on the kinds of impact AI has on them. While AI has great positive potential, it is also intimately linked to nonuniversal access to increasingly large data sets and the computing infrastructure required to make use of them. As a handful of nations and companies control the development and application of AI, this raises important questions regarding the potential negative implications of AI on the SDGs. The conceptual framework here presented helps structure the analysis of which of the SDGs AI might be useful in attaining and which goals are threatened by the increased use of AI.

Sustainable tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals in sub-national island jurisdictions: The case of Tobago

Island Studies Journal ◽

10.24043/isj.183 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Preeya S. Mohan

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Tourism ◽

Qualitative Approach ◽

Political Affiliation ◽

Development Goals ◽

Definition Of

Tourism has the potential to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed to by United Nations member states. For sustainable tourism to be successful, stakeholders must be involved in the process. The aim of this study is to consider the extent to which sustainable tourism contributes to achieving the SDGs and how tourism stakeholders understand and implement sustainable tourism. Specifically, the study adopted a qualitative approach and used the case study of Tobago. The data were collected using focus groups of tourism stakeholders. The research revealed that stakeholders embraced the SDGs despite a lack of understanding. They were unable to provide a comprehensive definition of sustainable tourism and their relation to the SDGs, but recognised its traditional components along with specific island features. Stakeholders more easily listed sustainable tourism practices and potential and their link to the SDGs. The barriers to sustainable tourism centred mainly on the role of the local governing body and political affiliation, dependency on the mainland, and prohibitive costs. Action is needed to facilitate broader stakeholder awareness and collaboration in support of efforts to enhance sustainable tourism and the achievement of the SDGs, where policymakers need to act as a catalyst for change.

Tools for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Design of an Urban Environmental and Healthy Proposal. A Case Study

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13116431 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 6431

Author(s):

Rafael Herrera-Limones ◽

Maria LopezDeAsiain ◽

Milagrosa Borrallo-Jiménez ◽

Miguel Torres García

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Life Quality ◽

Well Being ◽

Solar Decathlon ◽

Proposal A ◽

Development Goals ◽

Definition Of ◽

The University

This article presents a methodological proposal to address the urban issue from the perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Different tools have been developed for this purpose: the Aura Method and the Aura Matrix. The Aura Matrix of relationships built from the SDGs, along with the conceptual proposals to which the project must respond, allows for the definition of a methodological framework of action, defined as the Aura Method, applicable to any project that aims to respond to the urban scale from a more sustainable and healthy approach and within the framework of the above-mentioned goals. Two proposals for the Solar Decathlon Latin America of the Aura Team from the University of Seville (2015 and 2019) in Cali, Colombia, and their comparison, are presented as case studies. The scope of the 2019 proposal based on the use of these tools is more rigorous and bold with respect to the requirements defined by the SDGs than the 2015 proposal, based on the millennium goals. This reinforces to a great extent the resilience of the urban scope under study and its capacity to face serious situations in terms of citizens’ health, such as the pandemic we are currently suffering, and improves life quality. The main findings lay on the defined Aura Matrix and Aura Method tools as pragmatic opportunities to translate conceptual approaches such as G3: ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages’ into practical decisions and urban design proposals to improve the quality of life and health of citizens.