4 Ways Coders Can Fight The Climate Crisis
Suzanne DiBianca holds the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Impact Officer at Salesforce.
The progress towards achieving net zero in the economy is not happening at a sufficient pace, considering the increasing realization of the severity of the climate crisis worldwide. Essential resources like AI, which play a crucial role in driving innovation, rely heavily on extensive computational power. Similarly, the field of code and computer programming, which serves as the foundation of contemporary business, has significant room for improvement in terms of sustainability.
Even activities that may not appear to be directly related to the environment, like constructing or operating a website and creating software, can have significant impacts on the climate. A recent study published in the science journal Patterns reveals that the information and communication technology industry is responsible for as much as 3.9% of worldwide emissions. Furthermore, the energy requirement for the IT sector is anticipated to increase in the future.
Luckily, there is already a positive shift happening in the world of technology. Currently, efforts are being made to decrease the amount of energy consumed in data centers and to transition electrical grids to more sustainable sources. However, now is the time for programmers and designers to tackle a similar challenge in software, specifically in areas such as crypto proof of work and AI computing capabilities.
In a recent study conducted by Salesforce, we reached out to more than 1,000 professionals in the tech industry across the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Our aim was to gain insights into the growing movement towards eco-friendly software. The results were surprising: 75% of UX designers, software developers, and IT operations managers expressed a strong desire for software that is less harmful to the environment. However, almost half of these individuals are unsure of how to actually take action. Shockingly, half of the technologists surveyed admitted to not knowing how to reduce environmental damage in their work. As a result, a significant 34% of them confessed to rarely or never considering the carbon emissions generated while coding.
Reducing the amount of carbon we produce can appear overwhelming. However, by incorporating a series of small actions, we can collectively make a significant difference worldwide. Specifically, programmers have the opportunity to embrace various simple alterations that yield instantaneous outcomes.
In the beginning of this year, Salesforce introduced a sustainability handbook for technology which offers helpful suggestions for merging climate objectives with software creation.
Here are a few suggestions on how tech experts can participate in this transformation.
Embrace AI For Innovation
According to a recent study conducted by Salesforce, the potential of artificial intelligence is not being fully tapped in terms of eco-friendly coding. A staggering 60% of decision-makers are failing to employ automation or AI to enhance the energy efficiency of the software development process.
We at Salesforce have recognized the immense possibilities of utilizing generative AI for enhancing code efficiency, and we are thrilled to offer this to our customers down the line. Nevertheless, if not approached with the appropriate plan, preparation, and implementation, the utilization of these models can contribute significantly to carbon emissions, as highlighted in our Responsible Generative AI Development Guidelines.
Design With Low Emissions In Focus
When constructing a fresh product or website, designers possess the ability to develop enhanced, swifter, and environmentally-friendly user encounters. Designers have the flexibility to opt for the most eco-friendly alternative as the initial choice, rendering it effortless and appealing for users to engage in sustainable actions. Even minor alterations to picture dimensions, hues, and font selections can lead to substantial effects on a larger scale.
Sustain Code For Success
Creating software code that consumes less energy can result in substantial reductions in emissions, especially when implemented on a large scale. Decision-makers can actively search for applications that are programmed to operate directly in web browsers, as this can enhance performance and decrease energy consumption.
Join The Uprising
We are all united in the fight against climate change. When you reduce your energy consumption today, it has positive implications for everyone and every sector in the future. Fortunately, there is a significant movement advocating for environmentally-friendly coding practices. The Green Software Foundation facilitates various initiatives and collaborative efforts. Electricity Maps is actively monitoring global emissions through a publicly accessible platform, while GreenHack serves as a platform for the most dedicated sustainable coders worldwide to exchange creative and effective solutions.
Climate Crisis: Everyone On Board For Net Zero!
In today's world, it is crucial for leaders to establish a large gathering space where individuals can actively participate, utilize their diverse talents, and expedite our shared efforts towards sustainability.
It all begins with determined individuals in positions of power who are ready to establish the standard for sustainability. One of the major obstacles in revolutionizing the way companies create software lies in persuading higher-ups to fully embrace the cause. Our recent study, conducted with Green Code, revealed that a staggering 76% of decision-makers are not convinced that sustainable software development is essential. When there is no firm commitment from company leadership, technologists are left to navigate the situation alone, lacking the necessary expertise, education, and authorization to make a meaningful impact.
Tech-savvy individuals, known as technologists, possess remarkable intellect and creativity as they construct the upcoming era of information technology by writing code step by step. They enhance efficiency, safety, and ease of use to a remarkable extent, surpassing what was once inconceivable just a short while ago. Considering the rapid progress in artificial intelligence nowadays, their role has become increasingly critical.
Srinivas Tallapragada, the top honcho as President and Chief Engineering Officer at Salesforce, recently referred to the fusion of AI, data, and CRM as somewhat of a "sacred quest" due to the immense possibilities they bring forth for the industry.
By providing them with adequate resources and aligning them with effective management, we can not only achieve significant efficiencies and cost reductions but also effectively contribute to reducing emissions on a global scale. Collaborating is the most effective approach to bring about a positive change.
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