WEBVTT 00:00:12.370 --> 00:00:14.190 I thought I was sustainable. 00:00:14.650 --> 00:00:19.410 My food choices, my travel methods, and even the clothes that I wear. 00:00:20.350 --> 00:00:23.570 I really thought I had it all figured out. 00:00:24.130 --> 00:00:29.406 But it surprised me to realize that there was one footprint I'd never considered 00:00:29.406 --> 00:00:31.040 before. My digital footprint. 00:00:31.040 --> 00:00:37.167 Well, if you're someone who brings your reusable bags when you go shopping or thinks 00:00:37.167 --> 00:00:43.294 twice before leaving the tap running, what I'm about to tell you might change your 00:00:43.294 --> 00:00:44.520 perspective on technology. 00:00:46.220 --> 00:00:50.220 Take an email. That email is stored on a server. 00:00:50.220 --> 00:00:52.620 The server requires electricity to power. 00:00:52.620 --> 00:00:56.590 It generates heat. And it requires cooling. 00:00:57.750 --> 00:01:03.250 Data centers that house those servers typically require millions upon millions upon 00:01:03.250 --> 00:01:06.710 millions of gallons of water a day. 00:01:07.370 --> 00:01:12.350 And the servers, well, they just sit there, running indefinitely. 00:01:13.170 --> 00:01:19.290 Multiply that by billions of people, billions of times, every single day. 00:01:20.160 --> 00:01:21.260 The phone in your pocket. 00:01:22.080 --> 00:01:26.600 It connects to a global digital infrastructure that produces more carbon emissions 00:01:26.600 --> 00:01:28.940 than the entire aviation industry. 00:01:40.450 --> 00:01:44.450 We've been told that digital doesn't count. 00:01:45.850 --> 00:01:48.910 It's not real consumption, it's just the cloud. 00:01:49.530 --> 00:01:53.490 But the thing about the cloud is that it's not floating above our heads. 00:01:53.930 --> 00:02:00.810 It's a building. Actually, it's thousands of buildings the size of a 00:02:00.810 --> 00:02:07.730 shopping center, running full power, 24-7,all around the world. 00:02:08.670 --> 00:02:14.525 We call the cloud like it's weightless, ethereal, which is great marketing, 00:02:14.525 --> 00:02:17.327 honestly, but the internet has math. 00:02:17.327 --> 00:02:21.530 It has infrastructure, and it has a carbon footprint. 00:02:23.070 --> 00:02:27.970 Later, when this TEDx talk is uploaded to YouTube, it'll be stored on the server 00:02:27.970 --> 00:02:34.810 somewhere. That server will be running, using electricity, generating heat, and 00:02:34.810 --> 00:02:41.273 every time someone else watches the same video, more servers, more power, 00:02:41.273 --> 00:02:45.500 more heat. And that's just streaming video. 00:02:45.700 --> 00:02:49.080 We haven't even started to discuss the impacts of artificial intelligence yet. 00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:55.340 Today, I'm going to be talking about digital sustainability, the idea that our 00:02:55.340 --> 00:03:00.460 online actions have real-world environmental impacts and consequences. 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:07.700 I believe it's the missing piece of AI and tech literacy that we're not talking 00:03:07.700 --> 00:03:11.710 about enough today. But I'm not just here to talk about a problem. 00:03:12.310 --> 00:03:16.170 By the end of this talk, I'm going to share with you a framework that I've developed 00:03:16.170 --> 00:03:20.590 over years of experience of how you can make a difference, even starting today. 00:03:21.290 --> 00:03:25.250 Three words. Learn, lighten, and lead. 00:03:25.850 --> 00:03:28.450 But first, why does this all even matter? 00:03:29.270 --> 00:03:30.430 Well, here's the thing. 00:03:30.510 --> 00:03:35.850 We've become so technologically proficient that we forgot to ask ourselves one of 00:03:35.850 --> 00:03:37.290 the most basic questions. 00:03:39.450 --> 00:03:41.190 What does this all actually cost? 00:03:42.490 --> 00:03:47.110 Not in dollars, but in carbon, in energy, in water. 00:03:47.270 --> 00:03:53.430 We scroll and we stream and we send, and we assume it's all consequence-free, 00:03:53.590 --> 00:03:55.410 or we conveniently forget. 00:03:56.690 --> 00:04:03.570 But it's not. A single Google search consumes about enough energy to power a 10-watt 00:04:03.570 --> 00:04:06.050 light bulb for 108 seconds. 00:04:06.930 --> 00:04:08.030 That's nearly two minutes. 00:04:08.250 --> 00:04:13.150 Now, that might not seem like a lot, but multiply that by more than 5 trillion 00:04:13.150 --> 00:04:17.930 searches annually, and suddenly we're talking about serious energy consumption. 00:04:20.780 --> 00:04:22.140 Now let's talk about AI. 00:04:23.140 --> 00:04:26.280 Artificial intelligence has exploded over the past few years. 00:04:26.660 --> 00:04:31.040 Maybe even some of you here today are using it in your schools or your workplaces. 00:04:31.400 --> 00:04:37.220 Some teachers are even encouraging the use of artificial intelligence in computer 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:40.400 classes. For their programming and coding projects. 00:04:41.140 --> 00:04:44.840 I don't know what my teacher says, but here's what most people don't know. 00:04:47.300 --> 00:04:52.560 A single ChatGPT request consumes nearly 10 times more energy than a simple Google 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:59.160 search. 10 times. AI is incredibly resource 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:04.894 intensive. Training a single large language model consumes about enough energy to 00:05:04.894 --> 00:05:08.410 power hundreds of homes for an entire year. 00:05:10.970 --> 00:05:16.170 So, when a teacher encourages the use of these artificial intelligence tools for 00:05:16.170 --> 00:05:22.910 students' AI or programming projects, how many of us are 00:05:22.910 --> 00:05:27.170 asking, or how many teachers are teaching about the environmental cost of doing so? 00:05:29.310 --> 00:05:33.350 But it's not just AI, it's literally everything we do online. 00:05:34.150 --> 00:05:39.730 The internet now roughly contributes to 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, 00:05:40.170 --> 00:05:44.270 about the same as the entire United Kingdom. 00:05:45.750 --> 00:05:52.430 But that's just today, what about in 5, 10, or even 20 years? 00:05:53.890 --> 00:06:00.510 Goldman Sachs Research estimates that by the end of the decade, so 2030, Data center 00:06:00.510 --> 00:06:07.250 power demand is expected to grow 160% at least compared to 00:06:07.250 --> 00:06:14.090 2023. We're building a heavier, more resource-intensive web every single day, 00:06:14.250 --> 00:06:17.650 and most of us have no clue it's even happening. 00:06:18.590 --> 00:06:20.450 So why don't more of us know? 00:06:21.270 --> 00:06:25.890 Well, over my years being in this field, I've noticed a single consistent factor. 00:06:27.140 --> 00:06:30.860 A lack of education and awareness around digital sustainability. 00:06:32.020 --> 00:06:36.980 Think about it. Have you ever heard the term low-carbon website? 00:06:39.270 --> 00:06:44.090 Maybe you have, but the reality is that most people don't have a clue about this 00:06:44.090 --> 00:06:48.850 problem, which is why it's still happening on such a massive scale. 00:06:50.590 --> 00:06:52.890 But I want you to imagine a different future. 00:06:53.560 --> 00:07:00.280 A future where my generation, Generation Z, and the generations to follow, expect 00:07:00.280 --> 00:07:04.240 corporations to have digital sustainability policies. 00:07:04.980 --> 00:07:09.940 A future where we demand, where we advocate, because if enough of us do this, 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:14.360 corporations will have to listen to our demands if they want our continued business, 00:07:14.640 --> 00:07:19.760 support, and even future employees, because we are the next generation. 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:27.280 But we can't demand what we don't understand, and we can't advocate for what we've 00:07:27.280 --> 00:07:29.320 never even been taught before. 00:07:30.700 --> 00:07:37.380 We've given an entire generation the tools to build incredible technology, but not 00:07:37.380 --> 00:07:42.600 always the awareness of what that technology actually costs the planet. 00:07:45.370 --> 00:07:47.610 That realization changed everything for me. 00:07:48.630 --> 00:07:52.810 At the time, I'd been developing websites for a few years, until I came across that 00:07:52.810 --> 00:07:54.890 Google search and lightbulb statistic. 00:07:56.050 --> 00:07:57.850 And I took a moment to reflect. 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:05.440 I said, wait, what if, what if I could combine the two? 00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:12.093 On one hand, websites, which I already have a bit of experience with, and on the 00:08:12.093 --> 00:08:16.001 other hand, sustainability, which is what I'm really curious about. 00:08:16.001 --> 00:08:20.690 What if websites could be part of the solution to this problem? 00:08:24.140 --> 00:08:30.840 So in March of 2024, I founded Oasis of Change, a federal not-for-profit 00:08:30.840 --> 00:08:35.740 corporation based in Vancouver, Canada, to prove that this is possible at scale. 00:08:36.280 --> 00:08:41.188 And since our incorporation nearly two years ago, we've worked on website projects 00:08:41.188 --> 00:08:47.839 that have reduced carbon emissions, energy use, and water use by up 00:08:47.839 --> 00:08:54.710 to 98%. And we've planted over 9,000 trees across 18 countries, 00:08:54.970 --> 00:08:59.030 offsetting carbon while we work to reduce it at the source. 00:08:59.910 --> 00:09:06.539 And by the end of this month, we'll have planted a few thousand more trees in 00:09:06.539 --> 00:09:12.590 eight additional countries, including Ireland, Canada, Australia, and France. 00:09:14.760 --> 00:09:19.700 Regarding AI, I had the opportunity to participate in a hackathon hosted alongside 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:26.300 Microsoft, where a team and I developed a proof-of-concept solution for a 00:09:26.300 --> 00:09:29.620 sustainable cooling method in AI data centers. 00:09:30.180 --> 00:09:32.080 That experience is pretty fun. 00:09:32.260 --> 00:09:38.588 However, those two experiences taught me something really important, 00:09:38.588 --> 00:09:41.400 that solutions don't matter. 00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:46.140 If people don't understand, there's an issue with this in the first place. 00:09:47.420 --> 00:09:52.040 So I worked with the city of Vancouver to officially proclaim Sustainable Technology 00:09:52.040 --> 00:09:58.500 Week. An entire week dedicated to digital sustainability, October 00:09:58.500 --> 00:10:00.780 20th to October 27th. 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:02.960 Signed by Mayor Ken Sim. 00:10:04.270 --> 00:10:07.570 And that taught me that this conversation is starting to gain traction. 00:10:07.930 --> 00:10:09.890 We're starting to see change happen. 00:10:10.030 --> 00:10:15.990 Cities like Vancouver are now officially recognizing and even celebrating work in 00:10:15.990 --> 00:10:17.990 the digital sustainability field. 00:10:19.330 --> 00:10:24.270 But now the question is, how do we ensure that this traction stays there? 00:10:26.800 --> 00:10:30.360 How do we ensure that this conversation is still at the forefront of our 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:37.110 discussions? Through all this work, I've come up with a simple, three-step framework 00:10:37.110 --> 00:10:40.090 that anyone can use to start making a difference, even today. 00:10:40.510 --> 00:10:42.570 I call it the three L's. 00:10:42.930 --> 00:10:45.110 Learn, Lighten, and Lead. 00:10:46.290 --> 00:10:51.670 This is the exact framework that Oasis of Change uses, and it's how we achieve that 00:10:51.670 --> 00:10:56.730 90% reduction in website emissions on that single nonprofit project. 00:10:58.250 --> 00:11:00.170 The first step is to learn. 00:11:01.170 --> 00:11:03.710 Educate yourself about digital sustainability. 00:11:05.090 --> 00:11:10.110 Understand that our online actions have real-world environmental consequences. 00:11:11.150 --> 00:11:15.750 Start asking questions like, what's the environmental cost of this AI tool I'm 00:11:15.750 --> 00:11:18.110 using? Are there more sustainable alternatives? 00:11:18.750 --> 00:11:22.090 Does this tool provide sustainability reports? 00:11:22.870 --> 00:11:28.470 Or could I use a simple Google search to find a valid answer, rather than using AI, 00:11:28.650 --> 00:11:30.510 which uses 10 times more energy? 00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:35.320 The second step is to lighten. 00:11:37.110 --> 00:11:42.610 The second step is about making intentional choices to actively reduce your digital 00:11:42.610 --> 00:11:47.990 carbon footprint. For example, delete old emails. 00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:54.680 And if you're someone whose inbox says 9,999 plus, well, then this is your sign. 00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:59.100 Unsubscribe from newsletters you don't even read. 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:04.560 When you're watching a video and you don't need 4K, switch it to standard. 00:12:05.640 --> 00:12:12.260 Use AI intentionally, not for every small task that a search engine could handle. 00:12:15.850 --> 00:12:20.130 Step three, lead. Share what you've learned. 00:12:22.560 --> 00:12:26.720 If you're a teacher, integrate this into your curriculum. 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:32.700 If you're a developer, actually develop sustainable websites. 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:39.000 If you're a parent, educate your children that streaming their favorite TV show and 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:43.540 movie and playing their favorite video game actively contributes to their digital 00:12:43.540 --> 00:12:50.320 carbon footprint. If you're a consumer, question corporations about their digital 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:51.420 sustainability policies. 00:12:51.820 --> 00:12:55.060 Why does this all even matter? 00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:59.880 Well, the average person's internet use, just scrolling, streaming, and sending, 00:13:00.040 --> 00:13:04.160 produces about 230 kilograms of CO2 per year. 00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:11.160 That's roughly equivalent to driving a typical gas-powered car over 1,100 kilometers 00:13:11.160 --> 00:13:13.120 just from being online. 00:13:16.180 --> 00:13:22.940 But now, imagine if one teacher shares this with 30 students. 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:26.520 Those 30 students, they go home, they talk to their families. 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:33.280 Suddenly, a single classroom has created a ripple effect that reaches potentially 00:13:33.280 --> 00:13:39.760 hundreds of people, all slightly making more intentional choices. 00:13:41.310 --> 00:13:43.110 And you don't have to be a tech expert to start. 00:13:43.690 --> 00:13:46.110 You simply just have to care. 00:13:46.530 --> 00:13:53.310 At the start, I told you that I thought I was sustainable. 00:13:54.690 --> 00:13:56.550 Well, now you know what I didn't. 00:13:57.410 --> 00:14:02.210 And what I would argue is that still many people around the world today still forget 00:14:02.210 --> 00:14:04.490 and overlook on a daily basis. 00:14:06.010 --> 00:14:08.830 That being sustainable isn't just about your diet. 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:13.660 Or how you get to and from work, or even if you wear 100% cotton clothing. 00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:17.100 But it also includes your digital actions. 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:22.324 Because when you see numbers like 108 seconds, five trillion searches a year, that 00:14:22.324 --> 00:14:24.400 number is only estimated to increase. 00:14:24.680 --> 00:14:27.360 And 160% energy increase demand. 00:14:28.800 --> 00:14:34.760 Now that, multiplied by billions of people , billions of times, every single day. 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:41.680 It all adds up. Our collective digital behavior actually matters. 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:48.100 The internet is not going away. 00:14:48.640 --> 00:14:53.500 And technology will only become more central to our lives. 00:14:54.400 --> 00:14:59.720 Artificial intelligence is only going to continue to evolve and grow at rates never 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:06.520 seen before. But right now, in 2026, we have a choice 00:15:06.520 --> 00:15:08.720 to make, and a very important one. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:14.880 Will we continue pretending that the internet is like magic? 00:15:16.180 --> 00:15:18.900 Invisible, weightless, consequence-free? 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:25.680 Or will we teach digital sustainability as a core part of tech and AI literacy? 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:31.100 If we teach this now, we raise a generation that's not just technologically 00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:36.600 proficient, but one that's also responsible with their power use and educated about 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:38.220 their digital carbon footprint. 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:43.880 So that we can continue living as a prosperous species on this amazing planet. 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.860 Thank you.