Developing a Carbon-Neutral School of Computer Science Study Notes

Developing a Carbon-Neutral School of Computer Science

  • Event: UCD Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Week 2025

  • Dates: 22-26 September 2025

  • Speaker: Assoc Prof Damian Dalton, School of Computer Science

Sustainability and Climate Change

  • Focus Areas:

    • Impact of Information Technology (I.T)

    • School of Computer Science Carbon-Neutral Strategy

Principles of Sustainability

  • Definition:

    • The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), Brundtland Report (1987) states:

    • "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (U.N Brundtland Commission, 1987)

  • Significance:

    • This definition serves as the foundation for all subsequent UN initiatives, policies, and directives on sustainability, ultimately leading to the establishment of the 17 UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).

17 UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. No Poverty

  2. Zero Hunger

  3. Good Health and Well-being

  4. Quality Education

  5. Gender Equality

  6. Clean Water and Sanitation

  7. Affordable and Clean Energy

  8. Decent Economic Growth

  9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  10. Reduced Inequalities

  11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

  12. Responsible Consumption and Production

  13. Climate Action

  14. Life Below Water

  15. Life on Land

  16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

  17. Partnerships for the Goals

The Climate Crisis and Sustainability

  • Biosphere:

    • Global climate sustains all life and is foundational for the sustainability goals.

    • Maintaining global temperatures akin to those prior to industrialization is critical.

    • Carbon Emissions Sources:

    • They are the leading cause of rising temperatures globally via the Greenhouse Gas effect.

    • Key Objective:

    • Reduce and eventually eliminate anthropogenic (human-induced) carbon emissions.

Geological Evidence of CO2 and Global Temperature Correlation

  • Data Representation (398,000 BC to 400 BC):

    • Displays the correlation between carbon dioxide concentration (ppm) and temperature anomalies over millennia via graphical data from NOAA.

  • Observations:

    • Increases in atmospheric CO2 correspond with rising global temperatures.

Annual Trends in CO2 Emissions

  • Trend Analysis:

    • Annual CO2 emissions into the atmosphere have risen almost every year since 1850.

    • These emissions persist in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, leading to cumulative increases in CO2 concentration.

Effects of Temperature Increase

  • Temperature Rise Impacts (1.5C, 2C, … 4C):

    • At 1.5C:

    • Arctic regions > 4C increase, resulting in polar ice loss and permafrost melt releasing methane (80 times more potent than CO2).

    • Additional Effects:

    • Depletion of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current (AMOC).

    • Geographical Considerations:

    • Changes observed particularly in Ireland, reflecting severe impacts of climate change.

Greenhouse Gas Composition

  • Water Vapor's Role:

    • Accounts for ~50% of Earth’s Greenhouse Gas effect.

    • Without water vapor, Earth’s temperature would approximate -18C.

    • Anthropogenic Influence:

    • Human activities since the 1850s have significantly increased greenhouse gases, primarily CO2.

Environmental Impacts of Climate Change by Temperature Increase

  1. At 1.5°C:

    • Average drought: 2 months, 41% increase in burned areas from wildfires, more frequent floods/storms.

  2. At 2°C:

    • Average drought: 4 months, 62% increase in burned areas, more severe weather events.

  3. At 3°C:

    • Average drought: 10 months, 97% increase in burned areas, violent floods.

  4. At 4°C:

    • Extreme weather more frequent, and significant droughts.

CO2 Absorption and Emissions in Ireland

  • Ireland's Emissions Breakdown (2023):

    • Total: 55 Million tonnes CO₂eq (excluding LULUCF)

    • By sector:

    • Agriculture: 37.8%

    • Energy Industries: 14.3%

    • Transport: 21.4%

    • Small percentages from Waste, Residential, etc.

  • Comparison:

    • Ireland's emissions equate to those of the 400 million poorest global inhabitants.

Education and Mitigation of Climate Change

  • Key Areas of Focus:

    • Understanding climate change basics and recognizing disinformation.

    • Encouraging actionable solutions to reduce emissions at societal, group, and individual levels.

Global Impact of I.T

  • ICT Contribution to Emissions:

    • Manufacturing: 256 million laptops per year contributing 86 Mtonnes.

    • Manufacturing: 14 million servers per year contributing 21 Mtonnes.

    • 1.2 trillion Google searches emitting 1 Mtonnes CO2.

    • 400 billion ChatGPT queries emitting 2.4 Mtonnes CO2.

  • Future Projections:

    • By 2030, data centers and related technologies will consume 10% of global electricity.

Specific Emission Metrics: Laptops and Servers

  • Emission Details:

    • Laptop manufacturing carbon footprint: 335 Kg.

    • Server manufacturing carbon footprint: 1,500 Kg.

    • Daily operations: 3-minute email generates 17g CO2; Google Search expends 0.2–1.0 g CO₂e.

Resource Consumption and Waste in Data Centers

  • Impact of Data Centers:

    • Current consumption of 22% of the Irish grid's electricity, projected to rise to 30% by 2030.

    • Training GPT-3 consumes massive resources (700,000 litres of water).

Carbon Footprint Scope in School of Computer Science

Scope 1: Direct Emissions

  • Emissions controlled/produced by the organization.

Scope 2: Indirect Emissions

  • Emissions from energy produced where energy is bought (e.g., electricity).

Scope 3: Value Chain Emissions

  • Emissions from the organization’s supply chain, including travel emissions of international students.

Carbon Neutral Strategy for School of Computer Science

  • **Action Plans:

    1. Monitor I.T equipment utilization, productivity, and emissions every step of the way: manufacturing to recycling.

    2. Utilize renewable energy for operations when available.

    3. Promote public transport and car-sharing among students.

    4. Retire inefficient IT equipment, recycling components where possible.

    5. Maintain a comprehensive inventory of all I.T equipment to evaluate carbon footprints.

    6. Promote sustainable educational courses on climate change.

    7. Create a sustainability committee involving staff and students.

    8. Establish an online sustainability magazine.

  1. Monitor GHG emissions to offset unavoidable carbon footprints; promote tree planting, kelp forest preservation, and other carbon sequestration strategies.

Carbon Emissions Calculations

  • Direct Combustion:

    • Oil or Gas: Volume (litres) x CO2 emissions per litre

  • Electricity:

    • Volume (kWh) x carbon intensity (kg CO2/kWh)

    • Irish average carbon intensity: approximately 0.25 kg CO2/kWh.

Challenges in Emissions Calculation

  • Scope 1 and 2: Straightforward calculations based on direct energy use.

  • Scope 3: More challenging due to varied sources of emissions tied to supplier activities and product lifecycle from other producers.