  Computing is at a moment of profound opportunity. Emerging applications --
such as capable artificial intelligence, immersive virtual realities, and
pervasive sensor systems -- drive unprecedented demand for computer. Despite
recent advances toward net zero carbon emissions, the computing industry's
gross energy usage continues to rise at an alarming rate, outpacing the growth
of new energy installations and renewable energy deployments. A shift towards
sustainability is needed to spark a transformation in how computer systems are
manufactured, allocated, and consumed.
  Carbon Connect envisions coordinated research thrusts that produce design and
management strategies for sustainable, next-generation computer systems. These
strategies must flatten and then reverse growth trajectories for computing
power and carbon for society's most rapidly growing applications such as
artificial intelligence and virtual spaces. We will require accurate models for
carbon accounting in computing technology. For embodied carbon, we must
re-think conventional design strategies -- over-provisioned monolithic servers,
frequent hardware refresh cycles, custom silicon -- and adopt life-cycle design
strategies that more effectively reduce, reuse and recycle hardware at scale.
For operational carbon, we must not only embrace renewable energy but also
design systems to use that energy more efficiently. Finally, new hardware
design and management strategies must be cognizant of economic policy and
regulatory landscape, aligning private initiatives with societal goals. Many of
these broader goals will require computer scientists to develop deep, enduring
collaborations with researchers in economics, law, and industrial ecology to
spark change in broader practice.
