Digital technology impacts on the environment: key numbers
I have recently participated in the Digital Collage*, a great 3-hour workshop which helps acquiring a general overview of environmental issues related to digital technologies. Having read a few reports around the topic since, I realized that key numbers around the impact of digital technology on the environment are a little bit scattered across many resources. Therefore, I have decided to start compiling them in this short Q&A document.
This document can be used as a reference to harvest specific numbers anytime I need them. I hope it will also be useful to any person seeking information quickly on specific questions around the topic.
This is only a brief compilation of numbers and does not aim to provide a clear explanation of the complex impact of digital technology on the environment. If you're interested in learning more about this, I strongly recommend attending a Digital Collage workshop.
If you ever think of any question and answer worth adding to the list, please do let me know in the comments below and I'll be happy to add them.
*The Digital Collage workshop is also known as la Fresque du Numérique in France.
What percentage of total Greenhouse Gas Emissions is due to digital technology?
According to a report from the Shift project (2021), digital technology is responsible for 3 to 4% of global Greenhouse Gas emissions. This percentage is growing quickly and could reach 7% in 2025.
How are digital technology Greenhouse Gas emissions distributed?
According to GreenIT.fr (2019), digital Greenhouse Gas emissions are distributed as follows:
What percentage of global energy is consumed by digital technology?
Digital tech consumed more than 5% of global energy in 2020 according to the Shift project (2021). This percentage could reach 9% within the next 10 years.
How much energy is consumed by each component of digital technology?
According to GreenIT.fr (2019), digital technology energy consumption is distributed as follows:
How are raw materials distributed among digital technology equipment?
We need various raw materials to build tech devices. For instance, manufacturing a smartphone requires up to 70 different materials including 50 different metals (ADEME 2019).
According to GreenIT.fr (2019), raw materials used to build tech devices are distributed as follows: 76% for terminal user devices (smartphones, computers, printers...), 16% for network infrastructure and 8% for data centers.
What are the resources needed to build a 2 kilogram (4.4 lbs) computer?
Building a 2 kilogram (4.4 lbs) computer involves 200 kilograms (440 lbs) of fossil fuels, 600 kilograms (1300 lbs) of minerals as well as several thousand liters of water according to ADEME (2018).
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What is the weight of raw materials needed to build one single smartphone?
Manufacturing a smartphone requires 70 kilograms (154 lbs) of raw materials (France Nature Environnement 2017).
How many smartphones are used globally?
In 2019, there were 3.5 billion smartphones used across the globe (GreenIT.fr 2019).
How many digital tech devices are used globally?
In 2019, there were 34 billion digital tech devices used globally, including PCs, smartphones, printers and more (GreenIT.fr 2019).
What share of tech devices are recycled?
17% of tech devices reaching the end of their life enter recycling processes (the Global E-waste monitor 2020). Only a small part of device materials are actually recyclable according to the United Nations Environment Program (2011).
What is the carbon impact of smartphone use?
Below is a list of CO2 emission amounts related to smartphone use activity, according to volpy.com, a circular economy smartphone retailer:
References
The Shift Project (2021): Impact Environnemental du Numérique : Tendances à 5 ans et Gouvernance de la 5G.
GreenIT.fr (2019): Empreinte environnementale du numérique mondial.
ADEME (2019): Les Impacts du Smartphone.
ADEME (2018): Modélisation et évaluation des impacts environnementaux de produits de consommation et biens d'équipement.
France Nature Environnement (2017): Les Smartphones, des téléphones pas si smart pour l'environnement.
The Global E-waste monitor (2020): Quantities, flows, and the circular economy potential.
United Nations Environment Program (2011): Recycling rates of metals
volpy.com: Quel est l’impact du smartphone sur l’environnement ?
Head of Data Science
2ySami Najim Maxime Girard
Senior Programme Manager
2yThis is so valuable. Thank you for putting these important figures together. I'd suggest adding this at the end: what can individuals and small/medium organisations start doing today to limit digital technology related greenhouse gas emissions?