Exploring the challenges in mitigating our digital carbon footprint.
The global economic and social transformation brought about by digitalisation presents both opportunities and difficulties for sustainable development. The environmental impact of digital technologies and online activities, including greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption linked to the use and operation of digital devices, networks, and services, is referred to as the ‘digital carbon footprint.’ It encompasses the carbon emissions generated throughout the lifecycle of digital technologies, from manufacturing and distribution to use and disposal. Although the effects of digitalisation on the environment are widespread, they are not equally distributed. This demonstrates the critical need for increased openness and ethical sourcing methods in the digital supply chain to prevent the environment or marginalised communities from suffering as a result of technological advancement.
The Invisible Emissions
Digital technology and infrastructure depend heavily on the Internet, the root cause of emissions which go unnoticed in data centres. These massive facilities, filled with servers and storage devices like hard drives and SSDs, operate continuously. However, once these machines begin generating substantial heat, their performance and lifespan diminish. As a result, immense cooling systems are put in place to maintain optimal conditions for the devices, which significantly increase energy consumption. Direct environmental impacts from digital devices occur during the production phase, affecting natural resources, including transition minerals, electricity, and water. From 2001 to 2022, the number of semiconductor units sold quadrupled. Furthermore, the massive increase in global internet traffic is due to growth in streaming, video conferencing, online gaming, and social networking.
With an ever-evolving digital world, the number of internet-connected devices is expected to rise from 13 billion in 2022 to 35 billion in 2028, leading to more demand for raw materials, water and energy, greater emissions of GHGs, and more waste.
Quantifying Virtual Impacts
Comprehensive assessments of the environmental effects of digitalisation are cumbersome to gather as there is a lack of timely, comparable and accessible data. Analytical studies that rely on a variety of sources are quickly becoming outdated due to the speed of digital developments. According to a comparison from the Borderstep Institute, emissions from the production, use, and disposal of digital technologies could be between 1.8% and 3.2% of global emissions. The average internet user spends 40% of their waking hours online, resulting in an average carbon dioxide emission of up to 229 kilograms. That amounts to about 3% to 4% of average per capita greenhouse gas emissions. Further research from the University of Leiden calculated the impact of digital consumption on the planet’s carrying capacity. The average person’s internet use eats up 55% of their share of the planet’s mineral and metal resources, as well as 20% of the per capita carrying capacity for freshwater nutrient pollution as well as more than 10% of the per capita carrying capacity for marine nutrient pollution, particularly air pollution, ecotoxicity, and fossil fuel use.
Building A Carbon-Conscious Digital Ecosystem
Securing access to the supply of critical minerals has become a strategic priority, particularly for developed and developing countries that are important producers of goods needed for the transition towards a low-carbon and digital world. Policy efforts at the national level are more likely to prove successful if implemented as part of digital strategies developed with economic inclusion and environmental sustainability in mind. Tech giants like Google are transitioning to a sustainable future by using AI to make climate information accessible and understandable to drive innovation forward and aim to reduce 1 gigaton of their carbon emissions annually by 2030. Moreover, Apple has established a 10-year roadmap to lower emissions with a series of innovative actions, including low-carbon product design, expansion of energy efficiencies, 100% renewable energy transition, process innovations, and carbon removal. Other organisations like Microsoft, Amazon and Meta have similar renewable energy goals to mitigate the global digital carbon crisis.
Eco-Friendly Digital Choices
The path to a greener digital future lies in our ability to balance technological progress with environmental responsibility. The invisible carbon footprint of our online activities may seem overwhelming, but individual changes like clearing out old emails and files from cloud storage, unsubscribing from unnecessary newsletters, and using energy-efficient devices to help mitigate the carbon cost of production and disposal can significantly lower the carbon footprint of our increasingly connected world. By embracing eco-conscious digital habits, the benefits of innovation can be relished while ensuring environmental impacts are kept in check. The balance between technological progress and sustainability is key to creating a greener future for generations to come.
