The rise of remote workforces, cryptocurrencies and super-sized data centers brings to the forefront a concern in tech development that doesn’t get enough attention: The impact of computing and advanced technologies on the environment.

About six months into the pandemic, people began to notice cleaner air, clearer water and an overall calming effect on the environment in the reduced presence of industry. Memes were created and widely circulated that suggested maybe we were the problem after all.

That lasted for about six weeks before cabin fever set in, and we became impatient and ready to get back to business as usual.

In the time between the last quarter of 2020 and the sudden waxing and waning of NFTs, a few timid voices again raised concerns about the impact of super-computing and other technologies on the environment. Those concerns eventually became muffled amidst socioeconomic and political turmoil, fears about inflation, staff shortages and logistical issues surrounding supply chain disruption.

App development tried to fill some of those gaps and new data centers appeared as we struggled to find our footing again in a post-pandemic world.