Regulating AI for a Sustainable Future: Legal Challenges and Opportunities

Bc. Martin Sova

Vydáno: 24. 10. 2025 21 minút čítania

Článok sa zaoberá právnymi a environmentálnymi výzvami, ktoré prináša regulácia umelej inteligencie v kontexte udržateľného rozvoja. Analyzuje rôzne prístupy k regulácii – všeobecnú a sektorovú – a skúma možnosti implementácie na národnej i globálnej úrovni. Zvláštny dôraz je kladený na environmentálne aspekty, vrátane energetickej a vodnej náročnosti, produkcie emisií CO₂ a vzniku elektroodpadu. Diskutuje sa aj paradox technologickej efektívnosti (Jevonsov paradox), ktorý spochybňuje predstavu, že vyššia účinnosť automaticky znižuje spotrebu zdrojov. Autor porovnáva aktuálnu legislatívu Európskej únie s potenciálnymi nástrojmi, ako sú priama regulácia, zavedenie indexu udržateľnosti a limitovanie spotreby zdrojov. Záver zdôrazňuje potrebu globálnej spolupráce a zmeny spoločenského i právneho vedomia smerom k ekologickejšiemu a menej antropocentrickému rámcu.

Kľúčové slová: umelá inteligencia, regulácia AI, udržateľnosť, environmentálne právo, EU AI Act, Jevonsov paradox, geopolitika

Abstract: The paper addresses the legal and environmental challenges of regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the context of sustainable development. It examines general versus sector-specific approaches to regulation and considers the feasibility of national versus global implementation. Particular attention is given to environmental issues such as energy and water consumption, CO₂ emissions, and electronic waste. The discussion also highlights the Jevons paradox, questioning the assumption that higher efficiency necessarily reduces resource use. The author compares current European Union legislation (AI Act) with potential regulatory tools, including direct regulation, sustainability ratings, and hard caps on resource consumption. The conclusion emphasizes the need for global cooperation and a shift in cultural and legal consciousness toward a more ecological and less anthropocentric framework.

Key Words: artificial intelligence, AI regulation, sustainability, environmental law, EU AI Act, Jevons paradox, geopolitics

Introduction

The history of humanity is one marked by technological progression as humans have become increasingly apt at using machines to improve their lives. In the 21st century this progression has culminated in the advent and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, whose implementation stands to break the status quo and bring about untold change. The multitude of changes and their implementation cannot be considered wholly positive however, requiring legal regulation and societal acceptance to maximize its usefulness. The aim of this essay is to write about the possibility of regulating AI, the reasoning behind the need to regulate the sustainability of AI and the possible mechanisms of sustainable AI regulation.

Naturally AI has pros and cons and a wide range of implications, ranging from economic to social. AI can assist in various areas of research and application, for example the advent of autonomous cars, medical diagnosis, social media, financial analysis and home automation, among others (Pachegowda, 2023). AI traditionally carries with it numerous risks such as infringement of privacy, difficulty with data protection, discrimination, opacity and the ability to sow political discord (Hacker, 2023). Environmental concerns are being brought up as AI can noticeably help in this area, but also bring a plethora of risks.

As to avoid endlessly talking about the hypothetical reasons behind the regulation of AI and the forms through which this regulation can materialize, we must first examine the possibility of regulating AI and whether this regulation is more likely to be on a global or national level. We must also differentiate between the two different regulation policies, one of them being the general approach, whi