Sustainable AI

4.8/5(9)

This four-week course equips you with tools, and strategies to mitigate AI’s climate impact, optimize AI products for sustainability, and implement responsible, energy-efficient AI technologies

Take this course — Lifetime access

20+ students have taken this course

Created by —

François Burra

Co-founder, Climate Product Leaders, 3X product lead

Pascal Joly

Product lead, AI and data solutions expert

Introductory level

Some knowledge of programming and data science recommended but not necessary

Flexible schedule

Learn according to your schedule with fully asynchronous learning

3 weeks / 4 hours per week

Expected commitment. We will help keep yourself accountable with timely check-ins

Certificate & Office-hours

New

Certificate and office-hour meetings with course creator and other learners

Course overview

AI is projected to account for 50% of the Internet’s energy consumption by 2050, an increase from less than 1% today. Large language models (LLMs) already drive significant energy use in data centers globally, with demand rapidly increasing. This course offers actionable strategies for product managers and seasoned professionals to develop and implement AI products sustainably.

We’ll begin by examining the climate impacts and risks associated with AI. From there, we’ll explore sustainable AI principles, including sufficiency and efficiency, and their real-world applications. You will also learn essential tools for measuring sustainability and the ROI of adopting sustainable AI practices.

Throughout the course, you’ll engage with metrics and methodologies to make informed, climate-forward decisions when adopting and implementing AI technologies. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and network to drive sustainable AI initiatives within your organization.

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Skills you will learn

AI measurement and reporting

Measure and optimize the climate impact of digital technologies

AI use case fit

Assess when AI is appropriate and when alternatives are more sustainable

AI product design

Design AI solutions with minimized environmental impact

AI cloud engineering

Implement best practices to reduce AI’s environmental footprint in the cloud

Who is this course for?

Digital builders

Gain expertise in embedding environmental sustainability into AI projects, from data collection to model deployment

Leaders, executives, and VPs

Lead with sustainability in mind, craft strategic initiatives, and implement policies that reduce AI’s environmental impact

Sustainability and ESG professionals

Understand AI's climate impact and identify effective strategies to reduce those impacts, ensuring alignment with broader sustainability goals and ESG frameworks

Course syllabus

Week 1

Welcome and introduction to sustainable AI

Readings/viewing: The environmental impacts of AI, Emissions sources of digital products, Distribution of emissions in AI applications, Measuring emissions from AI

Week 2

Sustainable AI principles

Readings/viewing: When to leverage AI (and when not to), Sufficiency vs. efficiency, Prioritizing and choosing the right AI, Measuring ROI of sustainable AI.

Week 3

Sustainable AI principles

Readings/viewings: Energy efficiency in model training and inference, Sustainable infrastructure choices, cloud providers, and data centers, Engaging stakeholders on AI sustainability principles

US$ 399

Start learning — Purchase course

Get reimbursed by your employer|Request team pricing

Scholarship and financial aid

Selected applicants can receive scholarships based on merit or need. Have a scholarship from elsewhere? Terra.do will match it.

Pay in installments

You can pay the course fee in easy installments.

What you get with with this course

Free office-hours

Join monthly live sessions with the course creator and peers taking the same course.

Global community

Join our global community of 5k+ professionals from 80+ countries with 200+ expert mentors

Live events & workshops

Attend immersive events and practical workshops with top climate voices and peers

15% off other courses

As a learner, you get 15% off for all other courses on Terra.do. Including our cohort-based courses.

AI-assisted learningBeta

Cutting-edge AI-assisted learning experience with personilzed pathways and more.

Meet the course creators

François Burra

Co-founder, Climate Product Leaders, 3X product lead

François is a sustainable digital and low-carbon product consultant, mentor, and speaker with several successful turns as a Product Lead and UX Designer and 13 years of experience working with startups and agencies in Canada and the US. He helps digital companies reduce their digital emissions by delivering training, measuring digital emissions, and creating low-carbon experiences. He has trained individuals and teams in a variety of organizations such as Huge, ServiceNow, Planes, fruggr, Accenture Song, Cossette, etc. He recently wrote the climate product playbook “How to Become a Climate-Conscious Product Manager”. François is also a Terra.do fellow, completing Climate Change: Learning for Action in 2022

Pascal Joly

Product lead, AI and data solutions expert

Pascal is an experienced product manager with 25 years of experience in IT services and digital product development for large companies. He is a sustainability consultant at IT Climate Ed and an experienced digital collage facilitator. He holds a Coursera certification in Machine Learning, is a graduate of the INRIA Environmental Impacts of Digital Technologies program, and is certified in GHG Scope 3 measuring.

Live Office Hours

You won't learn alone

Join monthly live office hours with the course creator and fellow learners.

Ask your questions live
Get direct feedback from the instructor
Connect with peers taking the course with you
Learn from others' questions
Get access to the recording if you miss it
Keep lifetime access

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who will benefit most from this program?

Technology professionals with a background in AI who want to deepen their sustainability knowledge. Sustainability consultants seeking to acquire expertise in optimizing AI choices for their clients. Product managers aiming to shift into climate-focused roles and drive meaningful environmental impact. Professionals tasked with integrating AI into their products or services and want to minimize climate impacts from the outset.

Q: What does lifetime access mean?

A one-time payment gives you permanent access to all course content, including future updates, recordings, and resources.

Q: Can I connect with other learners or the instructor?

Absolutely. You’ll join monthly live office hours with the instructor and a peer group of learners to ask questions and network. You'll also become a lifetime member of the Terra.do community that has thousands of professions and leading experts from over 80 countries.

Q: Is the course material up to date?

Yes, we review and refresh our content regularly, and sometimes within days of major industry developments.

Q: How is the Terra.do experience different compared to others?

Our course material is vetted by leading climate experts to ensure accuracy and relevance. We foster a vibrant, impact-driven community, giving you direct access to the Terra.do team, top industry professionals, and a supportive network of like-minded climate changemakers.

Q: Will this course help me find a climate job?

Yes — many learners use our courses to pivot into climate work. You’ll also get access to the world’s largest climate job board, exclusive job postings from our extended network from inside the community and relevant career tools & support.

Q: What is the format of the course?

This course includes on-demand content and monthly live office hours. You can learn at your own pace and show up live when you want feedback or connection.

Q: What happens if I miss the live office hours?

All sessions are recorded, and you’ll have lifetime access to watch them later.

Q: Can I expense this through my employer?

Many learners do. We provide a receipt and employer reimbursement letter upon request.

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Sustainable AI

One-time purchase. Lifetime access. Free live office hours.

US$ 399

Pay in three easy installments

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