January 15, 2026
Businesses across many sectors are striving to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI). As business leaders focus on innovations in energy and technology, AI has emerged as a central topic because of its potential to help revolutionize energy infrastructure to meet growing energy demands worldwide.
Companies are looking to AI to offer transformative opportunities to boost energy efficiency, from product-level advancements to grid-scale solutions.
AI was an essential topic at many gatherings in 2025, including the 30th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP30), held in November in Belém, Brazil. UL Solutions joined more than 50,000 global leaders and innovators at the summit, where numerous discussions focused on energy needs, sustainability and the crucial role AI can play in these areas.
“UL Solutions is proud to share our cutting-edge safety science expertise with the global community, and COP30 offers an international stage that amplifies peer learning across key energy and sustainability stakeholders,” said Gitte Schjøtz, executive vice president and chief business operations and innovation officer at UL Solutions. Schjøtz also oversees the company’s sustainability strategy.
Rick Ziegler, director of trade and multilateral affairs at UL Solutions, attended COP30 to represent the company, exchange ideas with fellow experts and convey the message that safety is foundational for innovation.
As AI becomes a key driver of sustainability — by optimizing energy grids and enabling smarter, more efficient supply chains — UL Solutions advocates for its development in ways that serve businesses, consumers and communities so that innovation does not outpace responsibility.
During an AI panel discussion held in the central “Blue Zone” at COP30, participants addressed AI’s ability to help increase energy efficiency, as well as the significant energy demands that AI and data centers require.
Ziegler commented that “UL Solutions is helping to build safety and trust into the global AI journey, including its intersections with energy and sustainability.” He added, “You cannot have innovation without safety and trust, and AI is no exception.”
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Photo caption for top image: Energy, safety and AI were among the important topics participants discussed during the UN conference held on Nov. 10–21 in Belém, Brazil.