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The web is currently unsustainable, but we have a lot of ways to improve the way we create digital services. All people working in tech can do something—and we have to. It might also challenge how we think about accessibility, personal data and business models.
The environmental footprint of the digital world seems intangible to most. Yet our digital systems generate more emissions than the aviation industry.
According to a study by the GreenIT group 1, this current annual footprint results in:
- 6,800 TWh of primary energy (PE)
- 1,400 million tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHG)
- 7.8 million m3 of fresh water (water)
- 22 million tonnes of antimony (ADP)
Based on these figures, the digital world’s contribution to the footprint of humanity represents:
- 4,2% of the Primary Energy Consumption
- 3,8% of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- 0,2% of the water consumption
Look it up, it’s really a lot. Who’s to blame for that? Let’s see.
The unbearable weight of the web
Each minute, millions of clicks and content are sent on the internet. 80% of the global bandwidth is used for streaming (on demand, Youtube and pornography are the top 3 contributors).