Yeah, Python is slower than other programming languages and has a larger memory footprint than C/C++. Read this article if you want to learn about Python’s “dark sides”.
However, Python allows for rapid prototyping, makes programming so much easier for beginners and is one of the most effective ways of writing clean and meaningful code. Coders are flocking in masses to Python—and never go back. A recent StackOverflow developer survey showed that Python is the most-loved programming languages on earth!
The value Python brings to the world is massive. Because of Python, industry works more efficiently with AI, more people automate more things than would ever be possible without the ease of development with Python, and research progress skyrocketed! Before Python, researchers wrote Java code, evaluated the results in Octave, and plotted everything in Gnuplot. Researchers needed to study so many different technologies that it seriously reduced their overall research output.
I think the question is more whether you believe in progress or not. If you believe that technological progress will give us answers to our (ecological) problems, Python most certainly gives much more to sustainable development than it takes in immediate energy consumption.
Python is like that exothermic reaction: it releases much more energy than it costs (also compared to other programming languages).

While working as a researcher in distributed systems, Dr. Christian Mayer found his love for teaching computer science students.
To help students reach higher levels of Python success, he founded the programming education website Finxter.com that has taught exponential skills to millions of coders worldwide. He’s the author of the best-selling programming books Python One-Liners (NoStarch 2020), The Art of Clean Code (NoStarch 2022), and The Book of Dash (NoStarch 2022). Chris also coauthored the Coffee Break Python series of self-published books. He’s a computer science enthusiast, freelancer, and owner of one of the top 10 largest Python blogs worldwide.
His passions are writing, reading, and coding. But his greatest passion is to serve aspiring coders through Finxter and help them to boost their skills. You can join his free email academy here.