As you sit reading this post, how much are you contributing to global warming? TheLondon-based think-tank, the Climate Group has just released a report looking at the effect of computing on greenhouse gas
emissions.

The report claims that mobile phones,computers and their peripheral equipment accounted for CO2 emissions of 830 tonnes in 2007 – around 2% of the estimated total greenhouse gas emissions. Interestingly,this is about the same as aviation’s carbon emissions.

Emissions are likely to increase as more people get broadband.The report estimates that greenhouse gas emissions from computing will increase by 6% per annum until 2020.

But that’s not the whole story. Computers often replace or reduce the need for activities that generate much more carbon dioxide. For example, video-conferencing reduces the need for people to travel.

Also developments in th computer equipment itself may help. Low-power consumption netbooks have become very popular and
laptops have replaced higher-consuming desktops for many people.

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