Speaker
Description
Windows 10 security updates end on 14 October 2025 [0], KDE's 29th birthday and also, ironically, International E-Waste Day [1] (you cannot make these things up!). Hundreds of millions of functioning devices [2] will become e-waste. This means manufacturing and transporting new ones, which is perhaps the biggest waste of all: hardware production alone can account for over 75% of a device's CO2 emissions over its lifespan.
Free Software is a solution, today! We have an opportunity to coordinate a global, unified Free Software campaign over the next 6 months to raise awareness about the environmental harm of software-driven hardware obsolescence, at the same time upgrading users from Windows 10 to GNU/Linux directly to keep those devices in use and out of the landfill. Let's think big and act boldly! In this talk I will update LAS attendees on progress in the campaign and extend an invitation for contributors to make Windows 10 the last version of Windows end users ever use.
[0] https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/10/lots-of-pcs-are-poised-to-fall-off-the-windows-10-update-cliff-one-year-from-today/
[1] https://weee-forum.org/iewd-about/
[2] https://www.canalys.com/insights/end-of-windows-10-support-could-turn-240-million-pcs-into-e-waste
Twitter and/or Mastodon Handle
@be4foss@floss.social
Author(s) Bio
Joseph P. De Veaugh-Geiss (he/him) is the community manager of the KDE Eco project. The goal of KDE Eco is to strengthen sustainability goals as part of the development and adoption of Free Software.
| Participation | In-person |
|---|---|
| Track | Main Track |
| Level of Difficulty | Beginner |
| Pronouns | he/him |
