I certainly agree that there are many more issues that are worthy of discussion. It is also a necessary practical matter to limit threads to a particular scope. If we open things up to all possible avenues I can imagine in my head, then this topic would be likely devolve into folks talking over, past, and through each other as everyone defends/promotes their myriad positions.
This recent report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance shows some very concerning climate-related impact of planned AI usage and data centers etc in the US. According to the report, if the USA plans proceed, they would generate the equivalent of close to double the CO2 from the entire combustion of jet fuel in the USA.
My understanding is that these professionally calculated numbers on the overwlehmingly negative environmental impact of AI are substantially higher than any of the members here have attempted to calculate.
Report summary: New gas power plants for AI: Enormous CO2 increase feared | heise online