350 words
Referred to work: Making Data Sustainable, by SBrennan
I think that Brennan captures the conundrum best in Making Data Sustainable, when he states that the key paradox is this: to safeguard and protect our data from the threats associated with climate change—such as storms, floods, and drought-induced wildfires—we multiply and distribute our data across a vast network of server farms; but this multiplication, in turn, necessitates the expansion of physical infrastructures, which consume more space and energy, and generate harmful emissions that further destabilize both the climate and the environment.
Included in Brennan’s work on page 71 is the ad by the Climate Reality Project, “There is No Emergency Backup Planet” which reinforces his paradoxical point. With rising temperatures leading to melting ice caps and increased sea levels, causing more frequent coastal flooding and erosion; and the primary cause of climate change being emission of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere due to human activities - so often the technology space is left out of the conversation as major contributors to the problem.
As described throughout the solar powered website, Low Tech Magazine, we should challenge ourselves to rebuke the norms of technological advancement in an effort to understand what really counts as advancement. I actually remember the AOL dial-up of the 90’s and it was annoying to say the least, but what if we did replace high speed internet with an alternative solar powered version – what exactly would be the risk? Convenience? That, versus the reality that one of the primary rewards of solving climate change would be significantly improved respiratory and cardiovascular health for humans subjected to greenhouse pollutants in the air.
The consequences of climate change have far-reaching economic and social implications for the entire planet. Decreased productivity, increased healthcare costs, and the displacement of communities are just a few of its impacts, whereas strategies like transitioning to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, improving energy efficiency, and initiatives toward reducing deforestation – must also include the technology sector. I agree with Brennan in that we only have one planet, and in the worst case scenario of devastating annihilation, draining more energy from our planet won’t save our data, or the day.