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@ -30,28 +30,31 @@ No snow on the Alps and having most parts of southern Europe turning into desert
## Every fraction of degree matters, and that requires our action. ## Every fraction of degree matters, and that requires our action.
According to the environmental scientists we are living a critical time: meaning we can still change things but we don't have any time to waste before it is really too late. Last Tuesday at the World Economic Forum Davos, [Greta Thunberg read out an inspiring speech](https://youtu.be/rJ8Q_1r9L8U) which told the world that "Every fraction of degree matters." Every effort we do to reduce carbon emission matters and those of us who can, we need to do this in scale and with speed. One of the point she stressed is that richer countries need to get down to zero emission much faster than now - because we could, when we really mean to. If the environmental scientists are saying the truth, and we think they do, we are living a critical time: meaning we can still change things but we don't have any time to waste before it is really too late. Last Tuesday at the World Economic Forum Davos, the young environmenal activist [Greta Thunberg told the world](https://youtu.be/rJ8Q_1r9L8U) that we have less than 8 years to stop the temperature raising from more than 1.5°C and "every fraction of degree matters." Every effort we do to reduce carbon emission matters and those of us who can, we need to do this in scale and with speed. Especially the richer countries need to get down to zero emission much faster than now - and in fact we could, when we really mean to.
## The physical reality of our digital world ## The physical reality of our digital world
So what can we do? Probably most of you do some things for the environment, no doubt about that. Today what we want to talk about is reducing carbon emission from our digital world. To be specific, going zero carbon for our digital activities. Most of us do some things for the environment, no doubt about that. Today what we want to talk about is reducing carbon emission from our digital world. To be specific, going zero carbon for our digital activities.
We don't assume you to be stupid, but this is often very well hidden to all of us: that everything we do online actually has carbon footprint. We just don't see it so we tend to go on without really thinking about it, but we are still responsible for everything we do - searching, clicking, downloading, uploading, transferring, streaming, really every byte counts. Because although not so apparent on the digital surface, every data exists somewhere as physical infrastructure that runs with power generated by some source, 24/7. Let's see some very easy examples, [10 minutes of YouTube equals 1g of CO2e,](https://www.creditangel.co.uk/blog/consumption-and-carbon-footprint-of-the-internet) [30 minutes of Netflix equals 1.6 kg(!) of CO2,](https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/half-an-hour-of-netflix-and-chill-emits-the-same-amount-of-co2-as-6-km-drive-2364791.html) and the list goes on and on. You got the idea. We don't assume you to be stupid, but this is often very well hidden to all of us: that everything we do online actually has carbon footprint. We just don't see it so we tend to go on without really thinking about it, but we are still responsible for everything we do - searching, clicking, downloading, uploading, transferring, streaming, really every byte counts. Because although not so apparent on the digital surface, every data exists somewhere as physical infrastructure that runs with power generated by some source, 24/7. Let's see some very easy examples, [10 minutes of YouTube equals 1g of CO2e,](https://www.creditangel.co.uk/blog/consumption-and-carbon-footprint-of-the-internet) [30 minutes of Netflix equals 1.6 kg(!) of CO2,](https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/half-an-hour-of-netflix-and-chill-emits-the-same-amount-of-co2-as-6-km-drive-2364791.html) and the list goes on and on. You got the idea.
## How to reduce your digital CO2 emission ## How to reduce your digital CO2 emission
A very good practice you can do easily is slimming down your digital acitivity. It's also healthier for most of us to get away from the screen once in a while. Pick up a book from your local library instead of that bad movie you downloaded from torrent. (And of course walk or bike to that library if you can.) Problem solved. A very good practice you can do easily is slimming down your digital acitivity. It's also *healthier* for most of us to get away from the screen once in a while. Pick up a book from your local library instead of that bad movie you downloaded from torrent. (And of course walk or bike to that library if you can.) Problem solved.
No, problem not solved. Most of us do this digital thing for a living. We need to use data and some of us are actually saving the world by doing what we do. Many of us are in fact on the good side in fighting the evil (and/or) stupid side. Then what? No, problem not solved. Most of us do this digital thing for a living. We need to use data and some of us are actually saving the world by doing what we do. Many of us are in fact on the good side in fighting the evil (and/or) stupid side. Then what?
Then what you need to do is going renewable for your digital data. Go with renewable energy as much as you can, as fast you can. Then what you need to do is going renewable for your digital data. Go with renewable energy as much as you can, as fast you can.
## How do I know where my cloud is at? ## How do I know where my cloud is at?
True, most people don't really know or care where their data is at. We kind of know what's bad with fast fashion or disposable plastics but we didn't have to think about what kind of energy our cloud uses. In the meantime the [IT service industry grew as big as aviation industry in terms of carbon emission](https://time.com/46777/your-data-is-dirty-the-carbon-price-of-cloud-computing/) and now it takes about 2% of total global carbon emissions. So it is really about time we start to feel towards and act responsible with our cloud choices. You can start by finding out where your data physically is, and what kind of energy it uses. Most of the times it's not that hard to find out, and if it's hidden, you need to request the information to be disclosed to your provider. Where are they keeping their servers, and what is the energy source they are using? Are they running servers with coal or other fossil fuels? Or nuclear power? Or renewable energy such as water, solar or windpower? True, most people don't really know or care where their data is at. We kind of know what's bad with fast fashion or disposable plastics but we don't really think a lot about what kind of energy our cloud uses. In the meantime the [IT service industry grew as big as aviation industry in terms of carbon emission](https://time.com/46777/your-data-is-dirty-the-carbon-price-of-cloud-computing/) and now it takes about 2% of total global carbon emissions. So it is really about time we start to feel towards and act responsible with our cloud choices. You can start by finding out where your data physically is, and what kind of energy it uses. Most of the times it's not that hard to find out, and if it's hidden, you need to request the information to be disclosed to your provider. Where are they keeping their servers, and what is the energy source they are using? Are they running servers with coal or other fossil fuels? Or nuclear power? Or renewable energy such as water, solar or windpower?
## Zero Carbon VS. Carbon Offset ## Zero Carbon VS. Carbon Offset
This should be an obvious point, but it's not always so obvious for most of us. Zero carbon emission from the energy source (meaning produced by 100% renewable source such as water or solarpower) is a better choice than carbon offsetting. Carbon offsetting, roughly translates into using whatever energy source available (say coal or nuclear) and paying money for funding projects for reducing the CO2 already added to the air. Carbon offsetting is a solution with its own goals and values, but it is not an answer for our critical environmental situation especially if we have zero carbon as an option. Imagine, when a glass is full, not adding any drop to it would be the sane approach if we do not want to overflow the glass. This should be an obvious point, but it's not always so obvious for most of us. Zero carbon emission from the energy source (meaning produced by 100% renewable source such as water or solarpower) is a better choice than carbon offsetting. Carbon offsetting, roughly translates into using whatever energy source available (say coal or nuclear) and paying money for funding projects for reducing the CO2 already added to the air. Carbon offsetting is a solution with its own goals and values, but it is not an answer for our critical environmental situation especially if we have zero carbon as an option. Imagine, when a glass is full, not adding any drop to it would be the best approach if we do not want to overflow the glass.
## Where do I find the zero carbon solutions? ## How to go Zero Carbon?
To reduce carbon emission from the cloud there are two ways to do it. One is find the ones who are doing zero carbon already, and move your data there and support them so the renewable energy can be the norm. This will also encourage the new players coming into the cloud market to start clean as zero carbon. Two is pushing your cloud provider to change how they are running their servers and go fully renewable. This will help forcing the bigger players in the industry to change.
But for those who are capable, we want to say that go for the first option. It is for the same reason as the zero carbon vs. carbon offset. Keeping status quo is not enough in solving the current situation - when there are those who already doing the right things, go with them now, instead of continuing with those who promise to reach their goal in coming decades.
## What is available as Zero Carbon cloud now? ## What is available as Zero Carbon cloud now?