How to include environmental sustainability criteria in national AI funding schemes? Reflecting on the example of France and the Green Algorithms tool.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is in the media spotlight for its potential to transform the economic and research sectors, among others. This drives funding bodies to support AI-based innovation, with for example the Horizon Europe and Digital Europe programmes run by the European Union, or France’s investment strategy France 2030 (national strategy for AI). On the other hand, the environmental impacts of AI are now better understood, and we cannot ignore the role of AI on electricity and water usage, mineral resource depletion, and greenhouse gas emissions^1,2. To bring together innovation and sustainability, the French Department for the Environment (Ministère en charge de la Transition Écologique) has decided to require the use of the Green Algorithms tool for funding applications on the topic of AI and climate change. Applicants now have to include estimates of the carbon footprint and energy usage of the different development phases of the proposed AI solution. This was tested on a first funding call “Demonstrators of frugal AI for sustainable development of local communities”. The first applications were received in December 2023, with positive feedback from the different stakeholders. Applicants in particular approved of this new criterion, as they understood its necessity, found the tool easy to use, and did not consider this to slow down innovation. Following this successful implementation in a first funding call, it was decided to include the Green Algorithms tool more systematically in the application guidelines of other AI-related funding calls run by the Department. The goal of this piece is to reflect on the inclusion of environmental criteria in AI funding calls and share the lessons learned with other funding bodies internationally to promote similar initiatives across the AI ecosystem.