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Merrin Macleod How can we minimise our software’s contribution to climate change? How do we make software that can withstand climate change-related disasters? How do we deal with the knowledge that we’re careening towards catastrophe? I don’t have all the answers, but let’s do some maths about it. Merrin is a Ruby developer with a background in design, social enterprise, and the electricity industry. #ruby #rubyconf #rubyconfau #programming
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In her presentation titled 'Environment Variables' at RubyConf AU 2019, Merrin Macleod addresses the urgent problem of climate change and the role of the software development industry in contributing to and combating this issue. Macleod highlights the following key points: - **Climate Change Evidence**: Drawing on the IPCC’s 1.5 degrees report, she describes the observable increase in global temperatures, attributing it significantly to human activity, particularly greenhouse gas emissions. She mentions the bleak prospects for vulnerable ecosystems, such as the Great Barrier Reef, and stresses the need for mitigation as we have surpassed critical thresholds. - **IT's Carbon Footprint**: Macleod discusses how the information technology sector contributes about 2% of global emissions, primarily from data centers and the infrastructure supporting voice and data networks. She provides examples of the carbon intensity of electricity across different regions, stressing how this influences emissions from IT activities. - **Concrete Emissions Examples**: She shares illustrative figures to contextualize carbon emissions in relatable terms, like the significant CO2 emissions associated with desktop computers, business travel, and even Bitcoin transactions. For instance, a Bitcoin transaction emits around 205 kilograms of CO2. - **Opportunities for Action**: Macleod urges software developers to utilize their skills for climate solutions, like creating efficiencies in energy use and transport. She emphasizes the importance of actions like improving building energy efficiency and facilitating remote work to reduce travel emissions. - **Measuring and Reducing Emissions**: Highlighting the need for clear metrics for reporting emissions, she refers to the GHG Protocol and suggests organizations focus on three scopes of emissions. Her advice includes starting small, reducing unnecessary travel, and adopting local and carbon-neutral services. - **Afforestation and Offsetting**: Macleod touches on initiatives such as tree planting and evaluating their environmental impact, urging companies to strive for carbon neutrality through effective projects. - **Hope and Innovation**: Despite the gravity of climate change, she expresses optimism about our ability to drive significant change. By adapting our lifestyles and fostering efficiency, we can address emissions in Australia and beyond. In conclusion, Macleod calls for collective efforts from individuals and organizations within the tech community to understand and mitigate their environmental impact. She stresses that we are at a pivotal moment where embracing responsibility can lead to a more sustainable future.
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