Topic: 2025 – Artificial Intelligence and Resource Consumption
Country: Algeria
Delegate Name: Ethan Han
Artificial intelligence is perhaps the technology with the greatest potential of the 21st Century. For Algeria, the recent advent of AI stretches far beyond mere tools for innovation, but a largely untapped mine of economic opportunity, energy transition, and national sovereignty. However, Algeria also recognizes that the current developments in AI are harming the environment due AI being extremely energy intensive. Consuming energy, water, increasing waste from hardware and from mining. Considering these implications, Algeria’s position on this issue is based on practicality, sustainability, and sovereignty.
In 2024, Algeria launched its National AI Strategy until 2030. This strategy is built on six pillars: research and development, ecosystem and infrastructure, local support, investment and economy, regulation and application. These pillars represent the transition of Algeria’s economics while overseen by the government.
Algeria’s strategy with AI aligns with Algeria’s energy transition. Algeria is still very dependent on natural gas for electricity which causes issues in overexploiting natural resources. In order to restructure, a plan revolving around predominantly solar, installing 22,000 MW of renewable energy by 2030 has been set in place. Yet this dramatic restructuring will be a slow challenging process, as renewable capacity in 2023 was at under 600 MW. This creates a pressing dichotomy in which AI is needed for growth, but unchecked development would drain energy and cause environmental damage. Algeria, therefore, believes that advances in AI must be accompanied by implementation of renewable energy.
Algeria’s three core requirements for a plan involving AI are that, firstly, AI must contribute to sustainable development. AI is capable of increasing the efficiency of energy use such as optimizing water in agriculture or monitoring desertification. Secondly, environmental standards should consider national capacity. Rigid environmental standards can marginalize states with less advanced infrastructure, consequently, Algeria will oppose proposals that restrict AI access on broad environmental grounds or impose requirements without financial assistance that makes transition feasible. Algeria is in support of flexible environmental standards with financial and technical support. Thirdly, to Algeria, AI sovereignty is nonnegotiable. Dependence on foreign AI hinders and weakens national oversight. Algeria argues that countries must use national data and technologies to develop AI to avoid dependence on other countries.
Algeria’s policy objectives include the adoption of a Green AI Infrastructure and the creation of an International Financing and Technical Support Union. These programs would help be decided by the UNEP and when used in tandem should issue recommendations on energy efficiency, integration of renewable technology, and sustainable hardware while providing the means to make these changes. In addition, Algeria advocates for an environmental reporting framework that traces AI energy use, water consumption, emissions, and waste, allowing high-capacity states to lead while enabling developing states to gradually adopt standards as infrastructure improves. Finally, Algeria calls for Global South Pilot Programs which would test renewably sourced data models under real conditions and is willing to host or participate in these programs. With AI growth in renewable expansion Algeria urges the international community to pursue an AI solution that is sustainable, secure, and supportive of developing states. Alegria is committed and stands ready to collaborate with all nations to bring about a fruitful environmentally sound future that can benefit every nation.
Works Cited
https://dzair-ai.org/community/news/2024-09-15_Algeria_Announces_National_AI_Strategy_2024-2030
https://1p5ndc-pathways.climateanalytics.org/countries/algeria/sectors/power
https://www.algeriainvest.com/AlgeriaIC/public/en/premium-news/lalgerie-sengage-dans-le-renouvelable
https://www.iea.org/countries/algeria
