The Climate Partnership of Russia held a discussion on the role of AI in the climate agenda at the Cloud X Day conference
02/02/2026
The Climate Partnership of Russia held a discussion on the role of AI in the climate agenda at the Cloud X Day conference
On January 30, 2026, the RBC Event Center hosted a special session of the Climate Partnership of Russia titled "Artificial Intelligence in the Climate Agenda: Two Sides of the Same Coin," as part of the Cloud X Day conference. The event brought together leading experts fr om consulting, science, and business to find a balance between AI's potential to combat climate change and its environmental footprint.
The session was moderated by Olga Sanarova, Chair of the Organizing Committee of the Climate Partnership of Russia. In her opening remarks, she emphasized the relevance of the topic: "Artificial intelligence today is simultaneously a powerful tool for analyzing climate data, forecasting extreme events, and optimizing resources. It is also a source of new challenges: increasing data center energy consumption, the risk of energy shortages, and rising ambient temperatures. Our task is to find that 'golden mean' wh ere technology serves the planet rather than exacerbating its problems."
Key findings from experts
Mikhail Yulkin, CEO of OOO CarbonLab, emphasized the need for a responsible approach from the very beginning of development: "We can no longer ignore the carbon footprint of AI. Training large models requires colossal resources. But the problem isn't the technology itself, but the lack of standards for its 'green' application. AI must be designed with its lifecycle in mind—from the energy source to the disposal of the equipment."
Vladimir Lukin, a partner in the Operational Risk and Sustainable Development Group at KEPT, proposed specific measures: "Risks materialize when we scale technologies without a regulatory framework. Mandatory energy efficiency standards for AI systems, carbon footprint declarations, and the prioritization of renewable energy sources for computing power are necessary."
Tatyana Aniskina, Director of the HSE UNIVERSITY Geodata Center, presented practical results of using AI in the climate agenda: "Our algorithms, based on satellite data and AI, allow us to predict the vulnerability of energy facilities to climate risks—from extreme heat to floods. This reduces the likelihood of accidents by 30–40% and helps infrastructure adapt to a changing climate."
Elena Gordeeva, Head of Climate Control and Carbon Markets at RUSAL, discussed the use of AI in business: "Since 2018, the company has been implementing a system for online emission monitoring in potrooms using machine vision technology. During the project's implementation at the Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Smelter, potroom seal monitoring helped halve the time it took to depressurize potrooms, thereby reducing fluorine and carbon dioxide emissions. This technology won the inaugural national AI Leaders award in 2023."
Sergey Shebyakovsky, head of the climate risks in agricultural insurance project at the Ingosstrakh AI Development Center, noted the offsetting effect: "AI analytics allows for accurate crop yield assessments taking into account climate anomalies, helping farmers adapt to droughts and floods. The prevented damage far exceeds the carbon footprint of the algorithms themselves."
Yuriy Fursa, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development Technologies, emphasized international practice: "AI-based digital monitoring ensures transparency in environmental projects. This builds investor confidence and prevents greenwashing."
Denis Khleborodov, founder and CEO of Cloud X, concluded the discussion by outlining the direction of development: "The solution isn't abandoning AI, but rather its 'moderate use.' Three key steps: transitioning data centers to 100% renewable energy by 2030, developing energy-efficient algorithms, and introducing mandatory climate reporting for AI projects. Technology must serve people and the planet—and this is only possible with a conscious approach."
Results: Session participants reached a consensus: a balance between the benefits and risks of AI can only be achieved with a systemic approach that integrates clear regulatory frameworks, corporate responsibility, and scientific standards. The Climate Partnership of Russia announced the development of methodological recommendations for assessing the carbon footprint of AI solutions for businesses and the public sector.
The session was attended by over 400 in-person and online participants. The full recording is available in the Cloud X Day conference broadcast archive.
Contact information: Galina Makeeva, +7 (908) 881-67-77
The session was moderated by Olga Sanarova, Chair of the Organizing Committee of the Climate Partnership of Russia. In her opening remarks, she emphasized the relevance of the topic: "Artificial intelligence today is simultaneously a powerful tool for analyzing climate data, forecasting extreme events, and optimizing resources. It is also a source of new challenges: increasing data center energy consumption, the risk of energy shortages, and rising ambient temperatures. Our task is to find that 'golden mean' wh ere technology serves the planet rather than exacerbating its problems."
Key findings from experts
Mikhail Yulkin, CEO of OOO CarbonLab, emphasized the need for a responsible approach from the very beginning of development: "We can no longer ignore the carbon footprint of AI. Training large models requires colossal resources. But the problem isn't the technology itself, but the lack of standards for its 'green' application. AI must be designed with its lifecycle in mind—from the energy source to the disposal of the equipment."
Vladimir Lukin, a partner in the Operational Risk and Sustainable Development Group at KEPT, proposed specific measures: "Risks materialize when we scale technologies without a regulatory framework. Mandatory energy efficiency standards for AI systems, carbon footprint declarations, and the prioritization of renewable energy sources for computing power are necessary."
Tatyana Aniskina, Director of the HSE UNIVERSITY Geodata Center, presented practical results of using AI in the climate agenda: "Our algorithms, based on satellite data and AI, allow us to predict the vulnerability of energy facilities to climate risks—from extreme heat to floods. This reduces the likelihood of accidents by 30–40% and helps infrastructure adapt to a changing climate."
Elena Gordeeva, Head of Climate Control and Carbon Markets at RUSAL, discussed the use of AI in business: "Since 2018, the company has been implementing a system for online emission monitoring in potrooms using machine vision technology. During the project's implementation at the Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Smelter, potroom seal monitoring helped halve the time it took to depressurize potrooms, thereby reducing fluorine and carbon dioxide emissions. This technology won the inaugural national AI Leaders award in 2023."
Sergey Shebyakovsky, head of the climate risks in agricultural insurance project at the Ingosstrakh AI Development Center, noted the offsetting effect: "AI analytics allows for accurate crop yield assessments taking into account climate anomalies, helping farmers adapt to droughts and floods. The prevented damage far exceeds the carbon footprint of the algorithms themselves."
Yuriy Fursa, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development Technologies, emphasized international practice: "AI-based digital monitoring ensures transparency in environmental projects. This builds investor confidence and prevents greenwashing."
Denis Khleborodov, founder and CEO of Cloud X, concluded the discussion by outlining the direction of development: "The solution isn't abandoning AI, but rather its 'moderate use.' Three key steps: transitioning data centers to 100% renewable energy by 2030, developing energy-efficient algorithms, and introducing mandatory climate reporting for AI projects. Technology must serve people and the planet—and this is only possible with a conscious approach."
Results: Session participants reached a consensus: a balance between the benefits and risks of AI can only be achieved with a systemic approach that integrates clear regulatory frameworks, corporate responsibility, and scientific standards. The Climate Partnership of Russia announced the development of methodological recommendations for assessing the carbon footprint of AI solutions for businesses and the public sector.
The session was attended by over 400 in-person and online participants. The full recording is available in the Cloud X Day conference broadcast archive.
Contact information: Galina Makeeva, +7 (908) 881-67-77