Abstract

One of the greatest threats to our future society and economy is global warming.  It is estimated that the ICT industry alone produces as much CO2 as the entire output of the entire aviation industry. University researchers are now an increasingly major contributor to these CO2 emissions because of the demand for new cyber-infrastructure equipment which is essential to the future of scientific discovery. As a result some universities and R&E networks are starting to explore new types of computational and network architectures that not only benefit eScience but also reduces CO2 emissions. Optical high speed research networks and distributed zero carbon cyber-infrastructure data centers with web services and grids will be a critical component of this architecture.  These developments have the potential of creating new revenue opportunities for R&E networks and their associated members through carbon offset trading. Since consumers control or influence 60% of all CO2 emissions, universities and R&E networks can help pioneer programs to encourage students and faculty to reduce their personal carbon footprint through trading “bits and bandwidth for carbon” such as offering free eProducts such as eTextbooks, eMusic etc (which almost have a zero carbon footprint) as a reward mechanism to those who reduce their personal CO2 output in other activities.  Carbon rewards may be more effective than carbon taxes in modifying consumer behaviour.

Bio

Bill St. Arnaud is Chief Research Officer for CANARIE Inc., Canada's Advanced Internet Development Organization. He is involved in various activities related to next generation Internet, cyber-infrastructure and Green Broadband/IT. For more complete details please see his blog

http://billstarnaud.blogspot.com/