Climate Hacking to Save the Planet

Greg Newby opens by saying the talk is not about proving that climate change is real, but about the impacts people already see and what hackers can do about them. He cites 28 US weather and climate disasters in 2023 that each cost at least a billion dollars, and a survey of global business leaders that ranked extreme weather as their top perceived risk. He argues that greenhouse gases come from many sectors, so no single fix will be enough, and that acting early matters because carbon dioxide persists for centuries while methane has a shorter lifetime and a faster effect.

The middle section walks through energy flows, where most US energy still comes from fossil fuels. Newby is skeptical of carbon capture at scale, recycling as a complete answer, space-based solar, and nuclear power given long build times. He covers the energy and heat costs of computing and data centers, local renewable projects, and why electric vehicles still carry large embedded energy from manufacturing. He also distinguishes misinformation from the more organized disinformation aimed at specific audiences, and points to modeling, simulation and better observation as areas for technical work.

He closes with social change, awareness, and response and resiliency, citing volunteer efforts such as amateur radio and device charging during Superstorm Sandy. He encourages attendees to consider how their skills, careers and local advocacy could contribute.