JOB DETAILS
The consultancy will position UNEP as a leading voice in the global discourse on AI and its environmental implications, guiding Member States and international stakeholders in developing policies and frameworks to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of AI while harnessing its potential for positive outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Catalyzing a digital ecosystem of data and platforms to monitor trends, commitments, and solutions to the triple planetary crisis: establishing data standards and digital platforms for the timely and transparent monitoring of environmental change, and risks as well as foresight and progress towards MEAs and SDGs at both global and national levels. 2. Convening partnerships and multi-lateral engagements to influence markets, supply chains and consumer behaviors: transforming decision-making, choices and behavior of governments, businesses, and individual consumers to enhance environmental sustainability. 3. Facilitating country-level engagement to strengthen digital literacy, digital capacity, and governance: supporting country-level needs within regional and global context to identify priority use cases, influence policies, and build capacities to advance national environmental sustainability goals. The rapid advancement and integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various sectors necessitate a comprehensive understanding of its environmental impacts. While AI holds the potential to address critical environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, it also poses significant environmental risks through its substantial energy, water, and material resource demands, as well as its carbon emissions and e-waste generation. Moreover, the indirect and higher-order effects of AI, including changes in consumption and production patterns, further complicate its environmental footprint. To address these concerns, UNEP requires an Environmental Impact of AI Expert (Consultant) who will lead the initiative of assessing environmental impacts of AI, including identification of key partners and experts in the field, and collaborate with them on the research projects on the topic.

The consultant will develop a comprehensive roadmap outlining UNEP’s niche in addressing AI’s environmental impacts. As an outcome of the consultation processes the consultant will: Objective 1: To develop a comprehensive roadmap outlining UNEP’s niche in addressing AI’s environmental impacts. Objective 2: To identify key partners and experts in the field of AI and its environmental impacts, and establish the research group that will be working on the products from the roadmap. Objective 3: To lead and coordinate UNEP initiatives assessing AI’s environmental impacts, including engagement of external stakeholders. To engage with stakeholders through knowledge products and events to raise awareness and advocate for sustainable AI practices Objective 4: To develop a comprehensive knowledge product on the Environmental Impact of AI. Objective 5: To develop and a concept note and an outline for the second knowledge product on the topic and recommend the next steps.

Qualifications/special skills

– Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI) or a similar field. • At least 15 years of professional working experience in domains such as Information Technology, data science, data management or other relevant field is required. • Proven experience in coordinating research groups is required. • Proven experience in conducting research on the topic of technology and environment is required. • Extensive, proven experience in collaborating with various stakeholders to drive data-driven insights and solutions is required. • Technical expertise in AI, impact evaluation and environment are considered a strong asset. • Proficiency in stakeholder engagement and facilitation. • Experience with the United Nations, European Commission, or national governments is considered a strong asset.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this assignment, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.