The environmental impact of AI specifically, as it consumes huge amounts of energy, has become a talking point in Europe, with the European Environment Agency warning earlier this month that the “the rapid expansion of AI presents a growing challenge to achieving climate neutrality.”
But an emphasis on combating the environmental impact of tech is “a red line for the United States,” a digital ministry representative, granted anonymity due to French protocol, told reporters, adding that France respects its “partners’ red lines.”
Environmental issues have been “the most complicated” to get a consensus among the G7 countries, the same representative added, saying that the wording of that part of the declaration may only be endorsed by the “G7 presidency,” i.e. France.
“This is a step back from the initial ambitions,” the same representative admitted, adding that France “knew it would be complicated.”
More broadly, “discussing the regulation of industry players is something the United States is not ready to do,” the French digital ministry representative said, adding that “in Europe, we will conclude that regulation is necessary, and we will take the extra step that the United States is unwilling to take.”
The White House did not immediately respond when contacted by POLITICO for comment.
POLITICO previously reported that France also clashed with the U.S. over how strongly to commit to children’s online safety in the declaration. On Wednesday French officials told reporters that good progress had been made in that area and that they hope to agree on a declaration “that recognizes different types of risks” linked with the use of technology.