Indigenous Data Sovereignty, Circular Systems, and Solarpunk Solutions for a Sustainable Future

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Computer Science
• Indigenous Studies

Background:

• Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data center infrastructure have intensified discussions on cloud computing's energy consumption and environmental impact.
• Current data center policies prioritize economic growth, leading to unsustainable practices, significant energy waste, and heat generation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose the development of policies for earth-friendly computation practices.
• To integrate Indigenous models of circular sustainability and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) into data center infrastructure and policy.
• To explore how these practices can align with Solarpunk visions for a sustainable technological future.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of current data center policies and their environmental impact.
• Research into Indigenous models of sustainability, specifically aloha 'āina (love for the land).
• Examination of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) for application in sustainable technology.
• Conceptualization of integrating TEK with Solarpunk aesthetics and principles.

Main Results:

• Identification of current data center policies as inherently unsustainable due to a focus on resource extraction and economic gain.
• Discovery of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and Indigenous circular systems as viable frameworks for sustainable computation.
• Conceptualization of a future where technology harmonizes with the environment, emphasizing e-waste reuse and improved data life cycles.

Conclusions:

• Current cloud computing infrastructure and policies require a fundamental shift towards sustainability.
• Indigenous values and traditional ecological knowledge offer valuable, time-tested models for creating circular and sustainable systems.
• Adopting these earth-friendly computation practices can lead to a future where technology and environmental well-being are mutually supportive, addressing e-waste and energy concerns.