The environmental sustainability of digital content consumption

The environmental sustainability of digital content consumption

02 May 2024 | Robert Istrate, Victor Tulus, Robert N. Grass, Laurent Vanbever, Wendelin J. Stark, Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez
The article assesses the environmental impacts of digital content consumption, such as web surfing, social media, video and music streaming, and video conferencing, in relation to the Earth's carrying capacity. It finds that these activities currently account for approximately 40% of the per capita carbon budget consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, 55% of the per capita carrying capacity for mineral and metal resources use, and over 10% for other impact categories like freshwater eutrophication, particulate matter, and ecotoxicity. The study emphasizes the need for rapid decarbonization of electricity to mitigate climate impacts, while also highlighting concerns about the continued use of mineral and metal resources. Extending the lifetime of electronic devices is proposed as a crucial measure to reduce these impacts, particularly for mineral and metal resources use. The results suggest that a holistic approach is necessary to achieve sustainable digital content consumption, considering both energy consumption and the reduction of raw material extraction.The article assesses the environmental impacts of digital content consumption, such as web surfing, social media, video and music streaming, and video conferencing, in relation to the Earth's carrying capacity. It finds that these activities currently account for approximately 40% of the per capita carbon budget consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, 55% of the per capita carrying capacity for mineral and metal resources use, and over 10% for other impact categories like freshwater eutrophication, particulate matter, and ecotoxicity. The study emphasizes the need for rapid decarbonization of electricity to mitigate climate impacts, while also highlighting concerns about the continued use of mineral and metal resources. Extending the lifetime of electronic devices is proposed as a crucial measure to reduce these impacts, particularly for mineral and metal resources use. The results suggest that a holistic approach is necessary to achieve sustainable digital content consumption, considering both energy consumption and the reduction of raw material extraction.
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