Understanding software’s climate impact
Climate change is an urgent and pressing issue that poses significant threats to global ecosystems, human health, and socio-economic structures. Its most visible manifestation is global warming, which has seen our planet’s average surface temperature rise by approximately 1.18 degrees Celsius (about 34 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 19th century. This alarming change is primarily driven by the surge in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a key greenhouse gas responsible for climate change [0].
The understanding of humanity’s impact on Earth’s climate traces back to the late 19th century when scientists first hypothesized that the burning of fossil fuels might elevate atmospheric CO2 levels and global temperatures. However, it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that the science of climate change gained widespread recognition. In 1958, Charles David Keeling established the Keeling Curve [11], an...
