Topic: 2025 – Artificial Intelligence and Resource Consumption
Country: Russian Federation
Delegate Name: Yasin Avdic
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a broad term that can describe many technologies spanning from the 1950’s to our current time. It is just a term for technology that can process information and, on the surface, mimic human intelligence. However, in recent years, AI has grown at an unprecedented rate, allowing for its application to be more effective in many different facets of the day to day. It is now capable of detecting patterns in data, using knowledge fed to it to predict future outcomes, and using vast sums of content to respond to people’s questions (acting human) or to create images. These innovations increase processes in many industries greatly and aid with many jobs in multiple, unique ways. The problem with this new use of AI, is that because of how much it is being used daily, many large scale AI facilities require massive warehouses filled with processing units that contain rare earth minerals that are commonly mined in destructive ways. On top of this, the waste that is produced from creating these processors for the AI to run leads to harmful materials like lead and mercury. Plus, the amount of water globally used in AI structures may end up being six times more water than Denmark, which is a waste when many areas are suffering from a lack of water. The approach to this new technology varies with each government. From restricting certain apps that use AI, implementing certain regulations, directing on specific instances to use AI, and all the way to still assessing the full scale of AI before fully implementing anything, many countries are focusing on this and working to quickly create a solution to this seemingly new technology. Russia recognizes AI as a growing technology and leans into it, with certain precautions to ensure morals and safety and consent of citizens.
Russia has recognized many of these acts and the growth of AI, but sees AI as a helpful tool when used correctly. With a goal of having AI products being created in Russia, there will be more job opportunities for people within the country, independence from foreign suppliers, and a strengthening of national security, ensuring that peoples’ data aren’t being compromised. There is 650 billion rubles in the AI market and Russia aims to expand on that with sufficient concern for environmental impact. Russia has taken certain initiatives to lower climate impact, with socioeconomic development plans that will achieve low domestic emissions by 2050, implementing a national voluntary carbon market, and instating a carbon neutrality initiative, but has not tackled ways to lower carbon emissions through the lowering of processor/ AI development. Russia has many rare earth minerals that can contribute to the production of AI. Russia’s mineral riches account for 20% or more of the world’s rare earths stockpile. This stockpile could significantly enhance the use of AI through the creation of processing chips, allowing for that 650 billion rubles market to expand and offer more opportunities for people job-wise. Russia highlights the importance of working with the people to ensure the introduction of AI goes smoothly, with an AI code of ethics that 250 Russian companies have signed onto. This code highlights the protections and interests in the rights of people.
With Russia’s abundance of rare earth minerals and the positive impacts of AI when carefully monitored, the Russian Delegation would like to propose the idea of expanding on these facilities through the increased production of processing units and the focus on environmental efforts to counter the impacts of the manufacturing initiative. Russia has the resources to uphold such an economy with their rare earth minerals and already has instated several plans to ensure climate-safety. Taking a page from Britain’s AI, Russia could apply certain plans, like a carbon neutrality initiative, more aggressively onto companies, allowing for emissions to be quelled early as this new AI market starts up. These products could be exported to UN countries at a lower price, allowing all of the UN to get a foothold in this market as Russia aims to expand it.
Works Cited:
http://government.ru/en/news/49604/
https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/russias-strategic-approach-climate-change
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/ai-has-environmental-problem-heres-what-world-can-do-about
https://www.unep.org/resources/report/artificial-intelligence-ai-end-end-environmental-impact-full-ai-lifecycle-needs-be
https://wedocs.unep.org/rest/api/core/bitstreams/07b3c8fc-bd30-4b92-b5f4-d665e927b59d/content
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/04/italy-has-banned-chatgpt-heres-what-other-countries-are-doing.html
https://www.ginc.org/russias-national-ai-strategy/
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250331/what-rare-earths-does-russia-have-and-where-are-these-riches-located-1121722171.html
