gerrymcgovern

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

"The evidence does not really show that we can decouple – in absolute terms and globally and at the speed required – emissions from growth and material footprint," says Milena Buchs, professor of sustainable welfare at the University of Leeds.

"That has big implications for what we think about how the economy should be organised."

https://www.thenationalnews.com/weekend/2023/07/14/can-we-stop-climate-change-without-putting-the-brakes-on-economic-growth/

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

It has always amazed me how governments, in particular, have handed over the findability of their information to Google. AI will compound this risk.

https://gerrymcgovern.com/google-search-is-a-government-risk/

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

16 billion smartphones were having a conversation

“What am I,” said one smartphone, “but a drop in the ocean of smartphones?”
“Actually, you’re more than a drop,” said another smartphone. “It took 13,000 liters of water to make you. Every day you’re used, you drink 19 liters of water.”
“Huh?”
“And all of us together were responsible for 214 billion tons of water just to make us.”
“Oh, shut up! Shut up!!” screamed back the other 15 billion, 999 million, 999 thousand, 999 smartphones.

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

Data centers are big consumers of water

Uruguay is now suffering its most severe drought in 44 years
https://apnews.com/article/uruguay-water-supply-salty-stomach-issues-digestion-crisis-af8b2d965cf7043b4d40a116b9dded8a

Meanwhile, Google is planning to build a data centre in Uruguay that will use millions of litres of water a day.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/11/uruguay-drought-water-google-data-center

While over in Chile they’re asking: With Google as My Neighbor, Will There Still Be Water?
https://algorithmwatch.org/en/protests-against-data-centers/

Data Centres: 10 Things You Really Should Know About These "Super-Toxic Dumps"
https://www.hotpress.com/lifestyle-sports/data-centres-10-things-you-really-should-know-about-these-super-toxic-dumps-22979021

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

At 1.4 trillion, more photos were taken in 2019 than in the entire 20th Century

In 2023, it’s estimated we’ll take 1.8 trillion photos

90% of all photos ever taken were taken since 2000

Since 2000, we’ve taken about 2,000 photos for every child, woman and man on planet

We’re storing about 10 trillion photos in the Cloud

Most of them will never be looked at again.

To deal with CO2 caused by photos between 2000 and 2020, you’d need to plant about 675 million trees

https://photutorial.com/photos-statistics/

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

TODAY

Making digital more sustainable webinar with Gerry McGovern, July 13
Digital is physical. It consumes massive quantities of energy and produces even more massive quantities of toxic waste. Learn what you can do to reduce its negative impact.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5869592622980064346

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

The real recycling rate for electronics is 5%

That's deliberate.

Planned obsolescence

Less than 20% of electronics are recycled.

Of the electronics that are recycled, because these products are so materially complex, we only get back about 30% of reusable materials.

So, 95% of the laptop or smartphone that you're reading this on will likely end up dumped in some poor country to poison the water, air and soil.

16 billion smartphones since 2007.
5 billion laptops

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

"Global e-waste is expected to rise from over 61 million metric tonnes in 2023 to just under 75 million in 2030, and sadly, it’s estimated that as much as 85% of this e-waste – from laptops and smartphones to printers and office electronics – will be sent straight to landfill."

https://businesscloud.co.uk/opinion/we-need-to-talk-about-e-waste-can-circular-it-solve-this-crisis/

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

This is what we're mining the lithium for

"Banning disposable e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, is the “only solution” for curbing the plastic and battery waste the devices create, according to a report released Tuesday from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund."

https://www.wastedive.com/news/disposable-vape-ewaste-pirg-repair-recycle/686232/

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

Mining does so much damage

To achieve our "green" transition, we plan to increase mining from 100 billion tons a year to 170 billion by 2050

"Scientists worry that the existing mines could pollute the rivers for centuries. And some do not believe the technology exists to remove enough selenium from flowing rivers or groundwater to reach safe levels. Ms. Sexton said Teck could do more to seal the contaminants in the waste rock."

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/11/science/us-canada-mining-pollution.html?smid=em-share

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

"Irish households have reduced their demand for electricity by 9% over the past couple of years. In contrast, electricity demand from data centres has soared by 31%. A truly astonishing 18% of Ireland’s electricity now goes to feed over 80 already active data centres. 14 more are already under construction and an additional 40 have received planning permission. A further 12 are awaiting such permission."

https://www.hotpress.com/lifestyle-sports/data-centres-10-things-you-really-should-know-about-these-super-toxic-dumps-22979021

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

There are several ways Apple has implemented its planned obsolescence strategy.

"One of the most notable is through software updates. Apple regularly releases new iOS updates that are often not fully compatible with older iPhone models. As a result, these older models become slower and experience performance issues after updating to the latest software version. This can lead users to feel frustrated with their devices and feel compelled to purchase a new iPhone."

https://cellularnews.com/mobile-phone/why-are-iphones-so-cheap-now/#toc-3

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

EVs are not the answer. Less cars are.

A just published 2023 UK government funded report found that electric vehicles claims are already 25.5% more expensive than their Internal Combustion Engine equivalents and are taking 14% longer to repair.

https://www.thatcham.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Impact-of-BEV-Adoption-on-the-Repair-and-Insurance-Sectors-report-Innovate-UK-and-Thatcham-Research-FINAL.pdf

In the US, because of luxury electronic gadgetry, average costs of repairing cars has risen by an astonishing 36% since 2018, with insurance premiums rising 17% in just the last 12 months

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/03/business/car-repairs-electric-vehicles.html?smid=em-share

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

We are destroying Nature for "greener" vehicles

"Right now, the water is still clear," says Tawing, one of the fishermen. "But it won't stay that way… nickel waste enters our water during the rainy season and the current carries it here."

There is no such thing as "renewable" mining.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66131451

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

Fairphone 4—the repairable, sustainable smartphone—is coming to the US
Fairphone teams up with the developer of the /e/ Android fork to enable US sales.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/07/fairphone-is-coming-to-america/

gerrymcgovern, 10 months ago to random

Cars are getting heavier, killing more people and killing the planet

A heavy EV is just as damaging to the environment as a small petrol car..

Citroen petrol car: 6 tons of CO2 to manufacture
Average SUV: 35 tons of CO2
https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/massive-suv-sales-swing-is-canceling-out-co2-emissions-savings-from-evs-report/ar-BB1cYla4

In US, S.U.V.s, pickup trucks and vans could make up 78 percent of vehicle sales by 2025.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/02/17/climate/electric-vehicle-emissions-truck-suv.html