Artificial intelligence (AI) is reaching all corners of society. But is it a force for good for the climate, nature and human rights? How can your group use AI to support your campaigning? What can you do if an AI data centre is planned for your area? Our guide aims to help you figure that out.

21 Jul 2026

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What is AI? 

AI is a technology that enables systems to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence — such as reasoning and problem solving. 

Its roots stem from simple rule-based programs built in the 1950s. It evolved in the late 20th century as computer models were trained to mimic human decision-making without programming (machine learning).

Recent progress has been rapid, driven by powerful data and computing methods that help computers learn from patterns. 

Today AI appears in everyday tools such as predictive text, streaming recommendations, voice assistants, navigation apps and personalised ads – often working unnoticed in the background. 

AI relies on data centres – warehouse-sized buildings filled with computer servers used for data storage and cloud services – which rely on energy for electricity, water for cooling and a huge quantity of materials and minerals for buildings and components. 

How can local action groups use AI? 

AI is already being used in different ways to tackle some of the challenges the world faces – such as predicting the effects of climate change on our societies, helping to prevent wildfires and supporting conservation efforts. 

Used responsibly it could also support your group’s community campaigns. AI has the potential to: 

  • Capture meeting notes 
    Free up the note taker so everyone in your meetings can focus on the discussion. AI can summarise discussions, decisions, and action points clearly and quickly – saving time and making it easier to follow up on agreed actions. 
  • Research and analyse 
    You don’t have to have specialist research skills to compare options, identify trends and key facts. AI can do some of the heavy lifting and in doing so support better decision-making for your group. 
  • Brainstorm ideas 
    Got a problem to solve or a project to plan? AI can refine and expand on your ideas and even suggest creative approaches or solutions you might not have considered. 
  • Draft, edit and translate text 
    Finding time to write that email, crafting that social media post or start that funding bid can be hard. AI can draft text for different audiences and improve your writing by editing for clarity, tone, and grammar – making your messages more effective.

The world of AI continues to grow at pace, so that’s not an exhaustive list of the tasks it could help you with. Not everything can be achieved using free AI tools – you’ll find more advanced tasks require paid subscriptions. But most use cases will be covered effectively with free options. 

What are the risks? 

AI is the cause of negative environmental impacts, including: 

  • Rising energy consumption – required by new data centres and water for their cooling. 
  • Mining of rare minerals for electronic parts – and the resulting waste and pollution. 

Advances in artificial intelligence are also linked with worker exploitation and poor labour practices. AI companies aren’t always bound by regulatory requirements and often rely on underpaid work by people in countries such as Kenya to feed information into the systems. This can involve them having to review information that can be traumatic, such as hate speech and images of abuse. 

These harms disproportionately affect communities who are already the most vulnerable to the climate crisis. AI can generate productivity gains and innovation. But if left unregulated the current business models of AI technologies will just accelerate inequality and deepen the existing concentration of income and power.

 AI can also be biased. As well as offering opportunities to innovate it can also lock in the assumptions and priorities of the system it’s developed within. It also carries a risk of inaccuracy. Known as hallucinating, AI can sometimes sound very confident even when it’s completely wrong. It can get facts wrong or makes things up. 

How can I use AI responsibly? 

As the world increasingly looks to use AI there’s clear ethical dilemma for all friends of the earth. We’ll continue to raise concerns and campaign for governments to regulate AI better and support communities impacted by its development.

If you’re using AI in your community campaigning here are our tips to do responsibly. 

  1. Keep a human in the loop 
    Don’t rely on your AI output to be 100% accurate. You should always check your final version for accuracy – including facts, stats and sources. This is especially true if it’s public-facing content. 
  2. Use AI mindfully 
    AI runs in giant data centres that draw electricity and fresh water for cooling. A typical chat prompt only consumes a small amount of power but on a global scale the energy use is significant. 
  3. Use AI when it adds real value to your group’s work
    Weigh up the benefits for more energy-intensive tasks, such as so-called deep research tasks which run for longer periods. 
  4. Support people and planet in your prompts 
    AI’s outputs reflect the data it’s trained on, which can be biased or harmful. Small shifts in how you ask questions can lead to better, more ethical answers. Craft your prompts in ways that reflect fairness as well as care for people and the environment. For example, ask “Are there climate friendly alternatives?” or “How could this affect vulnerable communities? 
  5. Be careful what you put into AI 
    Avoid sharing confidential data and personal data about yourself or other people eg. addresses, phone numbers, emails. If you wouldn’t put it on a public noticeboard, don’t put it into a public AI tool. You can also tell AI not to use your data for training purposes and explore privacy settings and data policies. Not all AI tools handle the information you put into them in the same way. 
  6. Choose greener tools 
    Not all AI services are equal when it comes to energy use and emissions. Look for AI tools and platforms powered by renewable energy or that have made public commitments to reduce emissions. See if a website or tool is run on green energy via the Green Web Check or take a look at Ethical Consumer’s guide. 
  7. Avoid AI for images, audio or video
    It’s now possible to use AI tools to create visuals that can appear very realistic. But Friends of the Earth doesn’t currently recommend your group does this. AI-generated images, audio and video can undermine the focus on real people, lived experiences and genuine community stories. It’s also not always possible to guarantee they don’t infringe on copyrighted material. 

What about data centres? 

The recent boom in AI applications has resulted in big increases in demand for computing power, with billions of dollars pledged by global corporations for further growth – including here in the UK. As a result, data centres are increasingly seen as an essential part of the modern digital economy and society. We use them for services we take for granted, from online banking to streaming entertainment. 

As this sector grows, it’s essential that this growth shouldn't cause harm to communities, both here and in the global south where many of the raw materials come from. Friends of the Earth is supporting groups challenging an unchecked expansion of data centres. If a data centre is planned near you and are concerned it will threaten people and the environment you may find the resources below useful. If your groups wants support e.g. with planning application guidance get in touch. 

Where can I find out more? 

Friends of the Earth is on a learning journey with AI and we don’t pretend to have all the answers. Here’s a selection of resources if you or your group want to explore the world of artificial intelligence some more. If you have questions and ideas or want help please contact us – we’re keen to hear how you’re finding your AI journey and help where we can. 

Read 

Watch 

Learn 

5 top tips for prompting AI –  our guide to getting started with AI prompts

You may find courses to help build your AI literacy on offer in your local area. Government-backed schemes are often free in: 

Take action 

Resources