AI Usage and Attitudes in the Climate Movement
Author: Raz Pollex, Senior Digital Strategist, Climate Advocacy Lab
September 2, 2026
How are climate advocates contending with the emergence of AI? Who’s using it, and who isn’t? How are climate advocates using it, and how are they navigating the ethical and strategic dilemmas that AI presents? The Lab wanted to find answers to these questions, so we surveyed 152 climate advocates, as well as conducted focus groups and 1-1 interviews, to better understand the state of AI in the climate movement. The results are in this report – click to download. We’ll also be presenting these findings in a webinar on September 17 – register now.Â
Downloads & Links
Download the reportSome of the highlights:
đź“śOrganizations are developing AI policies – but in many cases, it’s slow-going. Only 40% of survey respondents worked for organizations with policies for AI use. We heard from many respondents that while there are conversations about AI in their organizations (71% said there had been discussion of negative impacts of AI usage at their organizations), many staff are frustrated by a lack of leadership or clear guidance when it comes to AI use.
đź’§Concerns about AI are central and can’t be ignored – even the biggest users are concerned. 83% of respondents were concerned about the environmental impacts of climate advocates using AI, and 71% were worried about the reputational risk. Even among daily users of AI, 64% of respondents were concerned about environmental impacts.
🖥️ Climate advocates ARE using AI – but there’s a big divide. 25% of respondents use AI at least once a day – but 33% never use it at all.
đź’ˇ We need capacity building across the movement to use AI efficiently, sustainably, and responsibly. 46% of respondents described themselves as having a beginner skill level or no experience at all. In some cases, that might indicate a lack of desire to use AI, but even among daily users of AI, only 11% described themselves as experts.
🗄️Climate advocates broadly see AI as a tool for increased efficiency, decreased busywork, or data processing, not a creative or organizing tool.
To learn more about AI, check out our AI Resource Hub, as well as the archives of our AI training series conducted in spring of 2026. Have questions?