Data Centre Specialist Group

The DCSG were invited to present at Oxford University's Towards Low Carbon ICT event.

Wednesday 19th March, 2008 at the Said Business School, Oxford University.

The University of Oxford is hosting the 'Towards Low Carbon ICT' conference to stimulate discussion on the practical measures that can be taken to build ICT services that both reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and mitigate the effects that higher energy prices will have on our institutions.

According to the world's top climate scientists, we need to reduce current carbon dioxide emissions by 70-80% in order to stabilise levels in the atmosphere and prevent dangerous climate change. However, current trends show that global energy demand will actually rise by 53%, leading to a 55% increase in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 (International Energy Agency, 'The World Energy Outlook', 2006).

Computing professionals can make a significant contribution to tackling these worrying trends. To achieve substantial emission reductions we must consider energy consumption across the full life cycle of ICT systems, so include the manufacture, disposal and transport of equipment, along with the performance of systems when provided as managed services.

The academic community in the UK have an opportunity to become exemplars to the IT industry in low carbon ICT, both through reducing the energy used in ICT and in fully realising the carbon benefits ICT can provide elsewhere. The BCS is keen to support these efforts.