The Second Green AI Summit Agenda

April 25-26, 2025

Harvard University and Boston University

Theme: Green AI for Global Sustainable Development

Day 1: April 25th, 2025 (Friday)

Location: Harvard University Gutman Conference Center, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 6 Appian Way, Cambridge, MA 02138

08:30-09:00 : Registration

Participants check in and receive summit materials, including the detailed agenda, speaker profiles, and networking opportunities.

09:00-10:00 : Opening Remarks

The Opening Remarks of the Second Green AI Summit will set the tone for two days of engaging discussions, innovative solutions, and actionable strategies at the intersection of artificial intelligence and sustainability.

This prestigious event will bring together renowned leaders from politics, academia, and industry to share their insights on leveraging AI for global sustainable development. The session will feature keynote addresses from distinguished speakers, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in addressing the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

• Senator Edward Markey, United States Senator, Massachusetts

• Secretary Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General, the International Telecommunication Union

• James Stock, Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability, Harvard University; Director, the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, Harvard University; the Harold Hitchings Burbank Professor of Political Economy, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University

• David Havelick, Associate Director, Harvard Office for Sustainability and 

• Sarah Craig, Senior Director of IT Operations, Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT)

• Jerry Huang, Founder, Green AI Institute, Launching “White Paper on Global Data Center Siting Policy and Practice”

10:20-11:10 : Panel 1: AI and Data Center Energy Usage and Environmental Impact

This panel will delve into the environmental impact of AI technologies and data centers, focusing on energy consumption, carbon emissions, and innovative solutions for sustainability. Experts will explore strategies for aligning the operational needs of data centers with global sustainability goals, addressing challenges such as renewable energy sourcing, water usage, and cooling systems.

• Le Xie (Moderator), Gordon McKay Professor, Electrical Engineering, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering And Applied Sciences

• Francesca Dominici, Clarence James Gamble Professor of Biostatistics, Population, and Data Science at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Director, Harvard Data Science Initiative at Harvard University

• KJ (Kaushik) Joshi, Chief Business Officer & Head, Data Center Business, Hitachi

• Carole-Jean Wu, Director, AI Research at Meta

• Noman Bashir, Computing & Climate Impact Fellow, MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium (MCSC)

• Jiaqi Liang, Director, Data Center Operations Planning and Energy, Tencent

11:20-11:35 : Keynote Speech: AI+Sustainability: A Dynamic Duo for Cloud Computing Infrastructure in the AI Era——Best Practices & Insights from Alibaba Cloud

• Zhaoyang (Roger) Wang, General Manager, Global Data Centers, Alibaba Cloud

Mr. Wang heads Alibaba Cloud's entire global data center strategy, R&D, delivery, and operation. He is the Lead Principal Investigator for Green Cloud Computing and Green AI Projects in ANGEL(Alibaba-NTU Global e-Sustainability CorpLab). Mr. Wang has represented Alibaba Cloud to speak at international events, including the COP29, WEF (World Economic Forum), UNIDO and the Asia Tech x Singapore.

11:35-12:05 : Initiatives Launching: Scaling Green AI: Infrastructure, Policy, and Research in Action

A series of case studies showcasing real-world applications of sustainable AI practices. These examples will highlight innovations from industry leaders to demonstrate successful strategies for reducing AI’s environmental footprint and fostering collaboration.

• 1135-1145 Jeremy Renshaw, Executive Director, AI and Quantum, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Introduction of EPRI’s Open Power AI Consortium, a Global Collaboration

• 1145-1155 Le Xie, Gordon McKay Professor, Electrical Engineering, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering And Applied Sciences, Introduction of “The Power and AI Initiative” (PAI) at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)

• 1155-1205 Paulo Carvao, Senior Fellow, Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Harvard Kennedy School

12:05-13:00: Lunch Break

13:00-13:50 : Panel 2: Towards a Low-Carbon AI and Data Center Ecosystem: Energy and Innovation

The rapid expansion of AI and data centers has led to rising energy consumption and environmental concerns. This session will explore solutions for reducing their carbon footprint. Experts will discuss advancements in energy-efficient infrastructure, renewable energy adoption, and policy frameworks driving sustainable development. Join us to explore the intersection of technology, policy, and innovation in building a greener digital future.

• Andreas Klaube (Moderator), Technical Leader III, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

• Junhui Zhao, Manager, Transmission and Substation Data Innovation, Eversource En

• Varun Sivaram, Senior Fellow, Energy and Climate, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)

• Peng Gao, Assistant Professor, Environmental Health and Exposomics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

• Shaolei Ren, Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Cooperating Faculty in Computer Science and Engineering, specializing in Responsible AI for Sustainable and Equitable Development

14:10-15:00 : Panel 3: Next-Generation Computing Hardware: Electronic, Optical and Quantum Technologies

This panel will critically examine future directions in computing hardware, including electrical, optical, quantum technologies, and how they can be integrated together. Key questions will include: At what stage of innovation are these technologies? What are the challenges in bringing them from the lab into industry? What are their projected benefits in performance, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability?

• Gage Hills (Moderator), Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering, Harvard University 

• Nate Gemelke, Chief Technology Strategist, QuEra Computing Inc.

• Ajay Joshi, Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Boston University & Architect at Lightmatter Inc.

• Olivier Ezratty, Co-founder, Quantum Energy Initiative 

15:10–15:50 : Lightning Talks: Emerging Innovations in Green AI

This session features a rapid-fire series of presentations from leading researchers and pioneers at the forefront of AI innovation. Each speaker will present cutting-edge ideas, experimental technologies, or novel research directions that are shaping the next wave of artificial intelligence.

Topics may include breakthroughs in model architectures, advances in AI-integrated systems, innovative hardware-software co-design, and cross-disciplinary applications. The goal is to spark curiosity, promote collaboration, and offer attendees a window into the most exciting innovations transforming the AI landscape.

• KJ (Kaushik) Joshi, Chief Business Officer & Head, Data Center Business, Hitachi

• Jennifer Turliuk, Practice Leader, Climate and Energy AI, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship

• Monica Wang, Deputy Director, the Institute of Industrial Innovation, Shanghai Jiaotong University (I3, SJTU)

• Can Hankendi, Post-doctoral Researcher, Boston University

16:10-17:00 : Panel 4:  Green AI and Data Center Policy and Investment

This session will discuss how policy frameworks and investment strategies can accelerate the development of sustainable AI ecosystems. Panelists will explore public-private partnerships, financial incentives, and regulatory frameworks that encourage sustainable practices in data centers and AI applications.

• Karen Clopton (Moderator), Former Chief Administrative Law Judge, the California Public Utilities Commission

• Ari Peskoe, Director, Electricity Law Initiative at the Harvard Law School Environmental and Energy Law Program

• Galen Nelson, Chief Climate Officer, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

• Vernon Turner, Director, IoT and Sustainability Advisory Services, Cognizant

• Benjamin Sovacool, Director, Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS); Professor, the Department of Earth & Environment, Boston University

• Klára Talabér-Ritz, Deputy to Director, Legal Service, the European Commission

17:10-17:30 : Launching Ceremony

The launch of the Journal of AI and Sustainability and the establishment of the Green AI Institute Advisory Board. This session will highlight the role of academia, industry, and policy collaboration in driving sustainable AI research and innovation.

17:30-18:00 : Networking Session

An open networking session that offers participants the opportunity to connect, share ideas, and explore potential collaborations.

Day 2: April 26th, 2025 (Saturday)

Location: Boston University Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences, 17th Floor, Boston University, 665 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

08:30-09:00 : Breakfast and Registration

Start the day with refreshments and networking before diving into the second day of sessions.

09:00-09:50 : Keynote Speeches

The Keynote Speeches session of the Second Green AI Summit will bring together visionary leaders to explore the transformative potential of AI in advancing global sustainability goals. This session will spotlight the importance of cross-sector collaboration and innovative approaches to tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing our world today.

• Elise Morgan, ad Interim Dean, College of Engineering, Boston University

• Melissa Lavinson, Executive Director, Office of Energy Transformation, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs 

• Robert A. Brown, President Emeritus, Professor, Engineering and Computing & Data Sciences, Boston University

• Yonggang Wen, Professor and  President’s Chair, College of Computing and Data Science, Dean, Graduate College, Associate Provost (Graduate Education), President’s Office, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

09:50-10:00 : Break

10:00-10:50 : Panel 5: Efficient and Responsible AI: Technology Solutions for a Greener Future

This session will highlight advancements in machine learning systems that prioritize energy efficiency, reduced storage requirements, and overall sustainability.

• Yasaman Khazaeni (Moderator), VP, Data Science & Machine Learning, Rue Gilt Groupe

• Paulo Carvao, Senior Fellow, Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Harvard Kennedy School

• Jay Jackson, Vice President, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Oracle

• Priya Donti,  Assistant Professor, MIT EECS & LIDS; Co-founder and Chair, Climate Change AI

• Kate Saenko, Professor, Department of Computer Science at Boston University; Director, Computer Vision and Learning Group and member of the IVC Group

• Stephan Klinger, Seniorx Expert Counsel, LGP Law, Vienna

• Shreyank N Gowda, Assistant Professor, the University of Nottingham

11:10-12:00 : Panel 6:  AI and the Grid - Complex Interactions

An exploration of the interplay between AI, renewable energy grids, and data centers. Panelists will discuss challenges in grid optimization, data integration, and the role of AI in enhancing grid reliability and renewable energy adoption.

• Ayse Coskun (Moderator), Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering & Systems, Engineering, Boston University

• Hendrik Hamann, Chief Science Officer, IBM Research for Climate and Sustainability

• Elli Nkatou, Manager, System Resilience and Reliability, Eversource Energy

• Junwei Cao, Professor, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua University

• Tyler Norris, PhD student, Duke University

12:00-13:00 : Luncheon

Participants can network and discuss innovative ideas in AI and sustainability.

13:00-13:50 : Panel 7: AI for Global Sustainable Development: Technology, Policy, and Impact

This session will explore how AI can address global sustainability challenges, including climate change, resource management, and smart cities, with an emphasis on real-world applications.

• Suchi Gopal (Moderator), Professor, Earth and Environment, Boston University

• Nathan Phillips, Professor, Earth and Environment, Boston University

• Hessann Farooqi, Executive Director, the Boston Climate Action Network (BCAN)

• Ke Zhao, Managing Director, Investment Banking Department, China International Capital Corporation Limited (CICC)

• Rakib Anam, UNA Youth Group Chairman, United Nations & Founding Director, Climate Cardinals 

14:00-14:30 : Closing Remarks

The Closing Remarks of the Second Green AI Summit will offer a reflective and forward-looking conclusion to two days of vibrant discussions, innovative ideas, and collaborative momentum. This session will bring together participants, speakers, and organizers to distill key takeaways and chart a visionary path forward for sustainable AI practices.

• Ayse Coskun, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering & Systems, Engineering, Boston University

• Karen Clopton, Former Chief Administrative Law Judgethe California Public Utilities Commission

• Jerry Huang, Founder and President, Green AI Institute

14:30-15:00 : Networking Session

Final networking opportunity to solidify connections and partnerships.

15:00 : Event Conclusion