Hacker Congress 38C3: All About Sustainability in the Digital World

38C3 - Blick auf das CCC-Gebäude in Hamburg.
© Thomas Fricke

The Chaos Computer Club's annual conference took place at the end of 2024. Here are the top presentations to watch.

Author Sarah-Indra Jungblut:

Translation Kezia Rice, 01.27.25

From the 27th to 30th of December 2024, the hacker community met for the annual congress of the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) in Hamburg. Known as 38C3, it’s one of the largest hacker conferences in the world with more than 12,000 participants. The focus is traditionally on technical and political issues relating to security, cryptography, privacy and freedom of expression on the internet. And of course there is soldering, coding and hacking. Every year, newly discovered security vulnerabilities make the headlines. At 38C3, the focus was on the new electronic patient file (ePA). In several presentations, hackers demonstrated how easily they could gain access to sensitive data using simple tricks. And even our street lighting and the control of wind and solar parks are not safe from hackers.

I spent two days travelling around the congress for RESET. What particularly interested me was the presence of topics relating to sustainability in IT. I actually heard a lot of talks on the topic, including on the big stages. The Bits & Bäume (Bits & Trees) network also had its own habitat with exciting talks, workshops and networking opportunities. Definitely a good place to go for all those who are concerned with the ecological footprint of digitalisation.

Bits meets Bäume - Symbolbild
Indra Jungblut/RESET

Key talks to watch from 38C3

The special atmosphere of the hacker congress can only truly be experienced in the hustle and bustle of the conference halls. But several presentations are available to watch online. Here are my recommendations – it’s worth taking a look!

Resource Consumption of AI – Degrow or Die

You probably know that the energy consumption of AI is exploding. What less people know, however, is the high consumption of resources such as water and metal. In this presentation, Thomas Fricke gives an overview of the devastating effects of data centres on our environment and presents possible de-growth scenarios. How much energy can be saved through alternative technologies?

What comes after Windows 10? Time to switch to open source software!

Extending the lifespan of hardware via free software is positive for both users and the environment. The presentation by Joseph (KDE Eco) is an invitation to venture into the open source world.

7 Years Later: Why And How To Make Portable Open Hardware Computers

The presentation by Lukas ‘minute’ Hartmann (MNT Research) shows problems and solutions in the development of open hardware laptops with a minimal budget (sound quality improves at 4 minutes).

Let’s build dodos! How generative AI is upturning the world of synthetic biology and hopelessly overwhelming traditional governance instruments

What is genome editing, CRISPR/cas, RNAi or off-target effects? How do generative AI and generative biology come into play here? Magret Engelhard (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation) gives an overview of what is happening in laboratories around the world. And she shows how big tech is entering the bioeconomy. Titans like Google, Alibaba or Amazon are now leading this new race – without specific knowledge of life sciences.

OpenPV – Calculate the solar potential of your building

With OpenPV, the photovoltaic potential of roofs and facades can be simulated in real time using open data. In this presentation, the developers present their open source website. It deals with open geodata, physics-based simulations of solar radiation, some shady WebGL code and insights into the financing possibilities of open source projects.

From Silicon to Sovereignty: How Advanced Chips are Redefining Global Dominance

Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is a key method in creating state-of-the-art chips for our devices. But sourcing the raw materials poses challenges. The talk covers the importance of this technology and how different countries control the supply chain of EUV.

Simplifying Scope 3 Decarbonisation with ClimateChoice 

Scope 3 emissions can make up to 90 percent of a business’s carbon footprint.  ClimateChoice helps companies understand and tackle them.

AI-Simulations Improve Aircraft Efficiency: The Solution the Aviation Industry Desperately Needs?

New software uses artificial intelligence to design more fuel-efficient aircraft. Will the technology sufficiently reduce aircraft emissions?

GeoMatch Screen Desktop
© GeoMatch
“The First Location Is a Stumbling Block or a Stepping Stone”: How AI Model GeoMatch Is Relocating Refugees

Refugees who settle in a new country face location-based challenges. Could artificial intelligence model GeoMatch provide a solution?

Geier im Flug.
© Jon A. Juarez/ GAIA-Initiative
The Gaia Initiative Uses AI, Animal Transmitters and Vultures to Protect Against Epidemics and Poaching

What can a vulture tell us about animal ecosystems? It turns out, quite a bit. The GAIA initiative has developed an early warning system with the help of these scavengers.

Breaking down Digital Language Barriers: Simba Wants to Make the Internet Easier to Understand for Everyone

Researchers at HIIG have developed a freely available AI application that reduces language barriers by simplifying online texts.

Symolbild: Nachhaltige Künstliche Intelligenz
Torge Peters
How Can the Energy Guzzler That’s AI Become More Sustainable? Interview With Friederike Rohde (Iöw)

Artificial intelligence has a large CO2 footprint. Renewable energies alone will not solve the problem, says Friederike Rohde.

How “Perplant Farming” Supports Environmentally Friendly Cultivation With Farm Robots and AI

AI and farm robots are opening up new possibilities in agriculture - environmentally friendly weed and pest control is one of them.

Artificial Intelligence: Can We Save Our Planet With Computing Power?

Artificial intelligence has long since solved complex tasks and made our everyday lives easier. But do intelligent computer programs also provide new solutions for environmental and climate protection?