Written by 
Part of our work involves sharing what we learn with peers in industry, academia and civil society. On December 5, Hannah, our Director of Operations will be presenting at the Green IO Conference in Paris. In this post, as Hannah prepares for this event, she talks to the Green IO organisers to share insight into what she’ll be talking about and why. We also share how you can get tickets to attend in Paris, including how to request a free ticket directly from Hannah.
Green IO: What has triggered your decision to join Green IO Paris?
Hannah: In my view, the Green IO conferences have become the meeting place for the wider digital sustainability community to network and learn from each other. But much to my disappointment I haven’t been able to make it one yet. I’m excited it’s working out, especially as I have been on the Green IO podcast a few times. Finally I’ll get to meet Gaël Duez and many others from the community in person.
Green IO: What can people expect from your talk?
Hannah: My talk is title “Start at the end”.
Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about the future and where things are headed. With all the elections taking place this year it feels like there’s a lot of shifting ground. Some of it I welcome, some not so much.
I’ve been actively seeking ways to avoid getting mired in doom and gloom thought patterns. A strong influence in that exploration has been tapping into creativity and imagination processes.
You know, that thing of visualising the better world you want to see, no matter how ambitious, as a way of making it feel entirely doable. Building a clear image of success to strive for without being held back by what you perceive as impossible.
Asking “What if?”
I appreciate in the world of tech and IT, that might sound a bit out there to some. You might be tempted to label it “woo-woo”, dismiss these kinds of practices as too intangible and prefer to stay rooted in the familiar.
But the more I think about it, the more I think that’s a massive mistake. A missed opportunity for those of us working in the realm of digital sustainability. Let’s not overlook this secret sauce of imagination.
I might even argue that imagination and dreaming is the missing skillset that we should build into any sustainability discipline. Like green coding, green ops etc.
We need big changes after all, and those won’t come by continuing to do the same things.
There’s loads of people already doing this in tech space. We can look towards things like solar punk, speculative futures and regenerative imaginaries. And beyond the tech spaces there are loads of other inspiring examples of how this can make a difference.
So what’s stopping us from starting at the end?
These are some of the ideas I’m clarifying, and will be honoured to present at the final slot of the Green IO 🎙️Paris conference, 3 – 5 Dec.
Green IO: How can people get tickets?
Hannah: Tickets are on sale now via Green IO’s partner, API Days – https://greenio.tech/conference/10/paris-2024-december-green-it.
I also have three free tickets to distribute as Green Web Foundation are one of the non-profit sponsors. If you’re able to attend in Paris on those dates and want a ticket, drop me an email. Don’t be shy to ask!
If you’re likely to be there and would like to meet for a chat, again let us know 💚
About the Paris conference
Green IO Conference in Paris takes place in CNIT – La Défense between Tues 3 Dec and Thurs 5 Dec and is organised by a long time friend of the Green Web Foundation, Gaël Duez.
This is an in-person event aimed at digital sustainability practitioners, advocates and academics exploring topics like green software, sustainable design, green cloud, responsible AI, etc. Day one is workshops and days 2-3 feature a packed talks agenda.
There’s a stellar line up of luminaries in the digital sustainability community.