Nila Kartika Wati
The publication of 99th Day marks a significant shift in climate discourse, moving beyond technical solutions like carbon credits and renewable energy to examine the psychological and sociological drivers of ecological destruction. McGovern’s thesis suggests that the exploitation of the natural world is inextricably linked to historical systems of dominance, specifically those that prioritize "masculine" conquest over "feminine" preservation.
A Chronology of Exploitation: From the Scientific Revolution to the Digital Age
To understand the current environmental predicament, McGovern traces the evolution of human interaction with nature back several centuries. He identifies the Scientific Revolution of the 1500s and 1600s as a pivotal turning point. During this era, thinkers such as Francis Bacon promoted a worldview where nature was no longer seen as a living, organic entity to be respected, but as a mechanical resource to be mastered and "subjugated" for human benefit.
This shift in perspective coincided with the systematic marginalization of women, most notably through the European witch trials. McGovern notes that these persecutions often targeted women who held positions of power in communal healing and mid-wifery, effectively replacing decentralized, nature-based knowledge with a centralized, male-dominated medical and scientific establishment. This historical context is supported by the work of ecofeminist scholar Carolyn Merchant, whose book The Death of Nature highlights how the rise of capitalism and the Scientific Revolution required a "dead" view of the environment to justify its extraction.
The timeline of destruction continued into the mid-20th century with the "Green Revolution." While often celebrated for increasing global food production through chemicals and machinery, McGovern characterizes this period as a "chemical revolution" that further alienated humanity from the soil. This trajectory has culminated in the modern digital age, where the "conquest" of nature has moved from the physical landscape to the data-driven manipulation of the world.
The Digital Carbon Footprint: The Hidden Cost of Data
One of McGovern’s primary areas of expertise is "data waste," a concept that remains largely invisible to the average consumer. While the internet is often perceived as a weightless "cloud," it relies on a massive, energy-intensive physical infrastructure. This includes millions of miles of undersea cables, vast server farms, and cooling systems that consume billions of gallons of water.
Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and various environmental research groups indicate that the information and communications technology (ICT) sector is responsible for approximately 2 to 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions—a figure comparable to that of the aviation industry. McGovern argues that a significant portion of this energy is wasted on "zombie data"—files, emails, and backups that are never used but continue to draw power.
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has exacerbated these concerns. Training a single large language model can emit as much carbon as five cars over their entire lifetimes. Furthermore, the daily operation of AI search queries requires significantly more electricity than traditional search engine functions. McGovern posits that the current rush to integrate AI into every facet of life is driven by a "supremacist" mindset that prioritizes rapid growth and market dominance over ecological stability.
Toxic Masculinity and the "Manosphere" in Tech
A central and controversial pillar of 99th Day is the link between toxic masculinity and environmental degradation. McGovern observes that the leadership of the world’s most powerful tech companies—dominated by figures such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg—often reflects a "tech bro" culture that values disruption and dominance.
This culture is mirrored in the "manosphere," an online subculture that promotes traditionalist and often misogynistic views of manhood. Research published in the journal Scientific Reports has suggested a "green-feminine stereotype," where men who adhere strongly to traditional masculine norms may avoid environmentally friendly behaviors, such as recycling or using reusable bags, because they perceive these actions as feminine.
McGovern argues that this psychological barrier extends to the highest levels of corporate decision-making. In his view, the drive to "conquer" the environment or to escape the Earth’s limitations via space colonization (a prominent goal for some tech billionaires) is a manifestation of a masculine identity that refuses to acknowledge vulnerability or interdependence with nature.
Responses from the Frontlines of Climate Advocacy
The themes explored in 99th Day have resonated with climate activists and ethical tech proponents. Katie Singer, an author and activist who has documented the environmental impact of the digital world, praised McGovern for his willingness to take personal responsibility for his role in the tech industry. Singer emphasizes that the "Green Revolution" of the digital age is often a veneer for continued resource extraction, noting that the minerals required for "clean" tech—such as lithium and cobalt—often come from exploitative mining practices in the Global South.
Naomi Spirit, founder of Human Touch AI, represents a growing movement of developers seeking to reduce the digital carbon footprint. Spirit advocates for "low-carbon websites" that use efficient code and darker color palettes to minimize energy consumption on user devices. While she acknowledges the benefits of AI in optimizing certain tasks, Spirit echoes McGovern’s concerns about the "tech bro" influence on the industry. She points to the difficulty parents face in managing the influence of social media algorithms, which are often designed by men with little regard for the long-term societal or psychological impact on younger generations.
Broader Implications: The Search for "Good Ancestry"
The implications of McGovern’s work suggest that a mere transition to renewable energy will be insufficient if the underlying culture of consumption and dominance remains unchanged. The book warns of a "99th day"—a metaphorical point of no return where the cumulative waste of the technological age overwhelms the planet’s ability to regenerate.
Critics of this view might argue that technology remains the best hope for solving the climate crisis, citing advancements in carbon capture and fusion energy. However, McGovern counters that "fake tech" solutions often serve as a form of greenwashing, allowing corporations to maintain their existing business models while appearing environmentally conscious.
The path forward, according to 99th Day, involves a radical reassessment of human nature and our relationship with the Earth. McGovern highlights the importance of Indigenous perspectives, which often prioritize stewardship and the well-being of future generations over short-term gain. Drawing on his own upbringing in rural Ireland, he recalls a culture that viewed trees and the landscape with a sense of sacredness—a perspective he believes must be reclaimed.
As the tech industry continues to expand into the realms of the metaverse and advanced AI, the questions raised by McGovern become increasingly urgent. The book serves as a call for "digital sobriety" and a move toward becoming "good ancestors." This involves asking not just what technology can do, but what it should do, and whether the pursuit of digital convenience is worth the sacrifice of a habitable planet.
Ultimately, 99th Day: A Warning About Technology is an indictment of a system that McGovern believes is designed for collapse. By identifying the intersection of gender, power, and environmental waste, the work provides a framework for a more holistic approach to climate advocacy—one that requires a fundamental transformation of both the machines we build and the culture that builds them.
