Jisc and EAUC urge institutions to address AI’s environmental impact
Guidance launched by Jisc and the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) is urging universities and colleges to take a more informed and responsible approach to the environmental implications of artificial intelligence.
Released at the 2026 EAUC annual conference, the AI and environmental sustainability in post-16 education guide aims to help institutions understand both the environmental risks associated with AI and the opportunities to use the technology in support of sustainability goals.
As AI tools become increasingly embedded across teaching, research and campus operations, the guide argues that institutions must move beyond passive adoption and actively consider the environmental consequences of their AI use. While the guidance focuses primarily on environmental sustainability, it also highlights the interconnected social and ethical issues associated with AI, including digital inclusion, equity of access, workforce impacts and human rights considerations.
According to the report, AI is already widely used throughout post-16 education, often in ways that are not immediately visible. Applications range from AI-assisted marking and student support chatbots to campus energy management systems.
Although many institutions have now introduced policies governing AI use, Jisc and EAUC warn that sustainability considerations are frequently absent from discussions around implementation.
One of the challenges identified is a lack of transparency from technology providers. Institutions are becoming increasingly dependent on global AI services but often have limited visibility of the energy, water and carbon impacts associated with those tools. This can make it difficult to assess AI’s contribution to institutional emissions, particularly within complex Scope 3 supply chains.
The guidance also highlights concerns around electronic waste and the environmental costs associated with hardware production. It notes that significant environmental impacts occur before AI systems are even deployed, through the extraction of raw materials and the manufacture of computing infrastructure. As a result, institutions are encouraged to consider hardware lifecycles, procurement practices and end-of-life disposal when developing AI strategies.
At the same time, the report argues that AI can support sustainability objectives when deployed carefully and for clearly defined purposes. Potential applications include optimising campus energy consumption, supporting climate research, extending equipment lifespans through predictive maintenance, automating carbon reporting and replacing energy-intensive physical processes with digital simulations.
However, the authors caution that claims about AI’s environmental benefits should be critically evaluated and supported by evidence.
The guide recommends a number of practical actions for institutions, including auditing existing AI use, requesting environmental impact data from suppliers, incorporating sustainability into AI literacy programmes, and strengthening governance frameworks to account for AI-related environmental risks.
It also suggests that individual users can reduce environmental impacts by having a clear rationale for using generative AI and by creating effective prompts that minimise unnecessary outputs.
Commenting on the launch, Cal Innes, sustainability subject specialist at Jisc, said: “The speed of AI adoption across colleges and universities, in many cases, is surpassing institutions’ ability to keep pace with its consequences, with the environmental dimension being one of the least well understood.
“Our members have expressed a need for support that is both practical and trustworthy, and that’s exactly what Jisc and EAUC have aimed to achieve with this guide. What the sector doesn’t need is more hype in either direction. By providing reliable evidence, honest assessment, and practical guidance and tools people can actually use we hope to move the conversation around AI and sustainability forward.”
Charlotte Bonner, CEO of EAUC, added: ”This guidance reflects the strength of partnership between Jisc and EAUC, and the insight of practitioners across the sector who are actively grappling with the challenges and opportunities AI presents. It does not claim to have all the answers but instead offers an honest and practical reflection of what we currently know in a rapidly evolving landscape.
“We see this as the start of a wider programme of work to support the sector, and we encourage technology suppliers to play their part by improving transparency and working with us to enable more sustainable AI adoption.”
The guidance concludes with a call for greater collaboration across the sector, arguing that universities, colleges and sector bodies must work together to improve transparency, strengthen reporting standards and influence suppliers on sustainable AI practices.
To support this effort, Jisc and EAUC will host an online AI and environmental sustainability masterclass on 14 July 2026.