Sumeyye Gencer
Bezmialem Vakif University, Turkey.
Abstract Title: Environmental Implications of Artificial Intelligence and the Role of Nursing in a Sustainable Future
Biography: Sümeyye Gencer is a Research Assistant in the Department of Nursing at Bezmialem Vakıf University, Istanbul. She earned her B.Sc. in Nursing from the same university (2019) and her M.Sc. in Public Health Nursing from Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa (2023) under Prof. Dr. Melek Nihal Esin, with a thesis on asthma management in schoolchildren. Currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Health Nursing, her research interests include public and occupational health nursing, school health, digital health technologies, and chronic disease management. She has participated in TÜBİTAK-supported projects and presented nationally and internationally, focusing on evidence-based and health-promoting nursing practices.
Research Interest: Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have revolutionized multiple sectors, offering innovative, data-driven solutions. Yet, as noted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its report “AI Has an Environmental Problem. Here’s What the World Can Do About That,” the development, training, and operation of AI systems impose significant environmental burdens. High energy consumption in data centers, water-intensive cooling processes, and the extraction of rare minerals for hardware production contribute to carbon emissions and ecological degradation, intensifying the climate crisis. UNEP recommends a multidimensional strategy to address these challenges, including standardized metrics to measure AI’s environmental footprint, mandatory transparency in corporate environmental responsibility, energy-efficient algorithm design, greater use of renewable energy in data centers, and the integration of environmental considerations into national AI strategies. These measures aim to align technological progress with ethical and ecological imperatives. Beyond resource use, AI’s environmental consequences also affect public health and social equity. Rising emissions and pollution increase climate-related diseases and disproportionately harm vulnerable populations. In this context, nursing plays a crucial role at the intersection of technology, health, and environmental stewardship by promoting sustainable digital health practices, advocating for energy-efficient healthcare technologies, and educating communities on environmental health. To achieve sustainable healthcare systems, it is essential to equip future nurses with the knowledge and skills to understand AI’s environmental impact and to lead sustainability-oriented digital transformations in healthcare. Nursing curricula should therefore integrate environmental ethics, green informatics, and sustainable technology management to prepare nurses as advocates for eco-conscious innovation. Integrating sustainability into AI development is vital for planetary and human well-being. Grounded in the science of human–environment interaction, nursing is uniquely positioned to champion responsible and ecologically sound AI use. By leading sustainability initiatives, nurses can ensure that technological innovation advances environmental protection and public health rather than undermining them. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Environmental Sustainability; Nursing Education; Public Health; Climate Change.