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“ACM TechBrief: Computing and Climate Change” has been published by ACM’s Global Technology Policy Council (ACM TPC). This brief research examines the energy consumption of the information and communication technology (ICT) industry and the effects of the consequent carbon emissions on the climate. One of the main conclusions of the study is that, although we must first halt it, computers can assist alleviate climate change.
The first in a series of quick technical bulletins from ACM TPC, TechBrief offers a scientific analysis of the ramifications of a certain technological advancement or application. Its main goal is to provide knowledge, not to promote any particular ideas, and was designed as an addition to ACM’s activity in the political sphere.
Topics being explored in his upcoming TechBriefs include facial recognition, election security, smart cities, cryptography, and more. The report notes that most analysts estimate that 1.8% to 3.9% of global CO2 emissions are due to information and communication technology activities.
As a result, the carbon footprint of the ICT sector is comparable to, and in some cases even greater than, that of the aviation sector. The constant rise in the carbon footprint of computers at a time when every sector of the global economy is being urged to do so is particularly alarming.
Given the exponential rise in recent years in the need for computer power, ACM TPC believes there is a great potential to issue a report on the topic.