Earlier today (19th of May), Katrien Vorlat, Partner at Strelia, joined the International Bar Association conference on energy, environment, natural resources and infrastructure organized at the Sofitel hotel in Brussels as a panelist, debating whether the artificial intelligence revolution will inhibit all efforts to reduce the carbon footprint.

The session was structured as a live debate, with panelists assigned to opposing positions. The central question — whether AI's transformative potential justifies the energy demands and resource extraction it drives — produced exactly the kind of friction these discussions need. What also emerged clearly is that viable answers differ by jurisdiction: regulatory frameworks, energy mix and resource availability all shape what is actually achievable.

A few snapshots from the event below.

With thanks to the IBA for the invitation, and to fellow panelists Tran Nghia Cao, Francesco Sindico and Christiano Rehder, and chair W. Ian Palm for a genuinely contested discussion.