The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change is a 700 page report released in October 2006. Written by Sir Nicholas Stern, Head of the Government Economic Service for the British Government, it was one of the most important social works of its time which discusses the effect of climate change and global warming on the world economy.

PRINT = 85g CO2

The printed version of The Stern Review was validated in the report as 85grams of CO2 in total for the complete manufacturing process and the paper. Because it is a finished printed book, that is the maximum CO2 it will ever amount to and can be read as many times as you like over the next 100 years.

ONLINE = 226g CO2

For every hour that a person reads The Stern Review in PDF format on a typical desktop computer*, 226 grams of CO2 are generated. This does not include the CO2 footprint for the IT infrastructure to deliver the PDF via the internet, nor does it include the footprint to print it out on an inkjet or laser printer. Of course, a typical reader will print out parts or all of the report. Why, because we want to read it in hard copy – the majority’s preference? Also of note is a study completed by well known Australian printing industry expert Phillip Lawrence of Eco Strategies, who concluded that one single colour A4 sheet printed on a laser printer, equalled 100 pages of four colour process, printed two sided on a cold set web offset press.

CD = 300g CO2

A study in 2007 by Australian Dr Tony Wilkins, Group Manger, Environment & Climate Change for News Ltd., has validated that the manufacture of a CD with The Stern Review data generates 300 grams of CO2 per disk or a DVD 350 grams and that is even before it is put into a computer and viewed or printed. *2.13 GHz Intel Dual Core 1 GB RAM, CRT Monitor (Panasonic PanaSync E701) and Wireless Router Modem (Belkin VoIP 802.11g). Computer energy costs sourced from Choice Australia, May 2008 and conversion coefficients used are sourced from the Australian Greenhouse Office Factors and Methods Workbook December 2007. Think you’re being environmentally responsible by posting your reports on the net? Think again.