UNESCO backs new AI law and sustainability chair in Singapore
UNESCO has welcomed the launch of a new Chair in AI Law and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore’s Centre for International Law, aimed at advancing research and policy on AI governance, the rule of law and sustainable AI development.
Led by inaugural Chairholder Dr Jon Truby, the initiative will promote research, policy guidance and regional cooperation on AI governance, the rule of law and the environmental impact of AI systems.
Truby said governments face the challenge of adopting AI without weakening accountability in public decision-making. He argued that people should know when AI is used, understand decisions affecting them, challenge those decisions and have access to effective remedies when systems cause harm.
The Chair will also examine AI’s physical infrastructure, including energy use, carbon emissions, water consumption, data centres, hardware and electronic waste. According to Truby, responsible AI governance must address these impacts throughout the technology’s lifecycle.
International legal issues will also be a priority, including state responsibility, liability, due diligence, cross-border harms and international cooperation. Truby said governments should prepare for potential AI-related emergencies as they do for other global crises.
Based at NUS, the Chair intends to strengthen Asia’s contribution to global AI norms. Its work will address regional concerns including access to computing hardware, language diversity, data sovereignty, public services, climate vulnerability and differences in regulatory capacity.
The initiative’s ASEAN Network Series will bring together scholars, officials and institutions across the region. Visiting researcher programmes, support for junior scholars and open-access publications are intended to broaden participation in debates on AI law and sustainability.
Truby described UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence as a bridge between ethical principles and enforceable legal frameworks. He said implementation should include clear institutional responsibilities, auditing mechanisms, avenues for redress and assessments of AI’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Over the coming years, the Chair plans to produce policy briefs, research publications, workshops, conferences and open-access resources for governments, regulators, international organisations and legal professionals. Its work will also connect with the International Law Association Committee on AI and Technology Law.
In the longer term, the Chair aims to position AI sovereignty, diplomacy and sustainability as core elements of AI governance. Truby argued that effective regulation will depend on who controls AI infrastructure, whose values shape technical standards and how environmental impacts are managed throughout the AI lifecycle.
Why does it matter?
The new Chair strengthens Asia’s role in shaping international AI governance by linking legal accountability with environmental sustainability. As governments move from developing AI principles to implementing enforceable rules, research that connects law, technology and sustainability is likely to play an increasingly important role.
The initiative also reflects a broader shift in AI governance. Rather than focusing only on ethics or innovation, policymakers are increasingly addressing AI’s environmental footprint, cross-border legal implications and institutional accountability as interconnected challenges requiring international cooperation.
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