Topic: 2025 – Artificial Intelligence and Resource Consumption
Country: Pakistan
Delegate Name: Lauren Barteld
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) is a key factor in the current consumption of global resources. While AI offers various tools within the realm of environmental monitoring through agriculture, water systems, and infrastructure, it also raises several concerns regarding its high energy consumption, excessive water usage, significant carbon emissions, and numerous other environmental costs. As a developing country exposed to many climate-related impacts, Pakistan already faces water scarcity and pollution, flooding, extreme heatwaves and droughts, air pollution, and a range of further related issues. Therefore, Pakistan recognizes the need to surveil the negative environmental impacts of AI usage, yet also understands the capabilities of AI as a powerful tool to support sustainable development when used responsibly and equitably.
Pakistan strongly supports the ethical use of artificial intelligence as a way to reduce resource consumption, strengthen the ability to manage climate challenges, and promote sustainable development. Simultaneously, Pakistan emphasizes the need to address these environmental and equity challenges that the expansion of AI has brought. Therefore, Pakistan encourages UNEP to consider what policies and programs can promote the ethical and equitable use of AI for utmost environmental resilience and resource management.
Pakistan highlights the importance of managing the environmental impacts of AI infrastructure. Technologies such as data centers and advanced hardware consume significant amounts of electricity and raw materials from the earth. Pakistan supports developing international standards that will promote the use of renewable energy in digital networks and encourage the adoption of improved energy-efficient technologies, such as the preestablished Data Vault Pakistan, an AI optimized, solar-powered data center in Karachi.
Additionally, Pakistan stresses the importance of technological equity. As a developing nation, Pakistan and others lack the infrastructure and proficiency to wholly benefit from AI usage. This risks strengthening preexisting global inequalities and reinforcing an inefficient use of resources. Therefore, Pakistan advocates for broader regulated access to artificial intelligence tools, technical education, and inclusive international collaboration. However, Pakistan strongly highlights the necessity of UN governance and oversight of military AI, as there are significant possible consequences from unregulated military use.
Pakistan’s current position is stable in national and international frameworks, such as the 2025 National AI Policy, which prioritizes AI as a tool, using it for climate adaptation, precision agriculture, and disaster management. Additionally, Pakistan is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, which reinforces a commitment to climate resilience and environmental protection. UNEP resolutions and framework on resource management and sustainable tools can further support collective action to minimize the harmful environmental impacts of advancing artificial intelligence.
Pakistan views AI as a powerful tool with the potential to advance sustainable development and opportunities for the international community to collaborate and work towards a more environmentally efficient future. By promoting energy-efficient systems and technological equity, Pakistan believes that all nations can collectively utilize AI’s abilities and address these environmental challenges while also strengthening inclusive growth. Pakistan looks forward to collaborating with fellow nations within the UNEP to work towards solutions.
Works Cited:
Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication – National Artificial Intelligence Policy, 2024 (moitt.gov.pk)
Cyber World Insight – Why Pakistan Needs Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Strategic Necessity, Not A Choice, 2025 (cyberworldinsight.com)
Paradigm Shift – The National AI Policy (2025) of Pakistan, 2025 (paradigmshift.com.pk)
United Nations – Paris Agreement, 2015 (un.org)
