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A large pile of electronic waste.

Sustainability and Energy Consumption

by Evan Thompson, published October 18, 2020

One of the most pressing issues of our time is energy production and consumption. In fact, the issue of energy sustainability is a key component in a few of the United Nation's sustainable development goals. These include affordable and clean energy and responsible consumption and production. According to the UN sustainable development goals website, global energy consumption and production utilizes natural resources “in a way that continues to have destructive impacts on the planet.” The UN states that our global material footprint is 85.9 billion metric tons, a more than 10 billion metric ton increase since 2010. On the subject of energy consumption, the UN states that as of 2017, renewable energy, such as solar or wind, makes up for only 17% of total energy consumption. As a consequence, carbon dioxide emissions have risen more between 2000 and 2010 than the previous three decades. According to an article from the UN, CO2 concentration in the atmosphere was on track to reach 410 parts per million by the end of 2019. Despite this extreme increase in emissions and energy consumption, almost 800 million people globally lack access to electricity. Based on the facts above, its clear that energy consumption and production have a widespread effect on almost all of the UN sustainability goals. For example, widespread consumption of nonrenewable resources depletes those resources, and contributes to climate change. Continued degradation of natural resources and the climate limits access to food, water, and important economic resources.

When researching the UN website, I wondered how our work as web and software developers contributes to these problems. The UN infographic on sustainable consumption and production noted that in the years between 2010 and 2019 electronic waste grew by 38%, but less than 20% of that waste was recycled. Information from Carnegie Melon's Carnegie Cyber Academy also notes the growing amount of “technotrash” that contains materials that are hazardous for the environment. Carnegie Melon also highlights the amount of nonrenewable resources and power that are consumed to operate and manufacture tech products. They go on to suggest buying more energy efficient products and to practice disposing of electronics safely and sustainably. The brands you decide to buy can also be a sustainable choice. The site states that choosing to buy more energy efficient components or electronics that aren't produced with hazardous materials can encourage companies to adopt more sustainable practices. These choices on their own are small, but when adopted by many their impact has the potential to be much greater.