Digital Boom Could Well Be A Bust For The Environment

Dipankar Deka

Did you know?

The production of a computer weighing two kilograms requires 800 kilograms of raw material.
The energy needed for bitcoin mining reached 121 terawatts (Unit of power) last year.
UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) urged investment in renewable energy to prevent the negative environmental impact of the digital company.

The digital boom has given rise to environmental challenges due to electronic waste (e-waste), which is generated from discarded devices. The manufacture of electronics consumers resources and energy, often derived from non- renewable sources, increasing carbon emissions.

Digital Boom Could Well Be A Bust For The Environment

“The rise of technologies such as artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, cryptocurrency mining, has significantly increased energy consumption.” said UNCTAD chief Rebeca Grynspan

“For example, the energy consumption of bitcoin mining increased 34-fold between 2015 and 2020, reaching almost 121 terawatt hours. The energy consumption of bitcoin mining exceeds the consumption of Belgium or Finland per year” – the UNCTAD secretary general told journalists of Geneva.

Our online activities, such as shopping, uploading videos, sending mails and digital payment rely on a vast digital infrastructure.

This infrastructure consists of data centers and servers spread across the world, with the highest concentration in the United States. According to data center dynamics, the total data center consumption across the US is expected to reach 35 gigawatts by 2030. where 1 gigawatt means 1000 megawatts.

While many believe that going digital reduces pollution, it is not as environmentally friendly as it seems. Digital infrastructure and our devices contribute to 2.3- 3.7 percent of global greenhouse emissions, according to various studies.

Efforts are being made to shift to renewable energy. For example, internet streaming giants have committed to replace electricity generated from fossil fuels with renewable energy such as solar and wind energy. Progress on many such renewable projects is slow, hindered by conflicts over tariffs and the actual cleanliness of the energy.

Adding to the urgency, global data usage is skyrocketing. By 2025, internet users worldwide are expected to generate 463 exabytes of data per day. This exponential growth puts increased pressure on data centers and, as a result, increases their environmental impact.

While progress in energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption is significant, they currently lag behind the rapid pace of data consumption. Until these renewable energy goals are fully met, the internet will continue to harm the environment with every beat.

According to Statista, there were 5.44 billion internet users worldwide, representing 67.1 percent of the global population. Of this total, 5.07 billion or 62.6 percent of the world’s population were social media users. In value terms alone, business e-commerce sales increase suddenly from 17 trillion dollars in 2016 to 27 trillion dollars in 2022 across 43 countries, MS Grynspan noted.

We talk a lot about how digital technologies can help cut greenhouse gas (Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide) emissions in the transport and construction, in the field of agriculture and energy sectors. But it also have some negative environmental impacts that need to be resolved.

According to UNCTAD, in 2022 global data centers consumed 460 terawatts hours, an equivalent of power used by 42 million homes in the United States in a year. This figure is expected to double by 2026.

The UN agency also cites estimates that the digital sector is accountable for 1.5 to 3.2 percent of global greenhouse emissions similar to that of air transportation and shipping.

In 2022, Google revealed that its data centers and offices used 5.6 billion gallons (about 21.2 million cubic meters) of water. Microsoft reported water consumption of 6.4 million cubic meters in the same year. This high-water use has caused tension among local communities in several countries. In addition, according to Microsoft, ChatGPT-3 training alone required about 700,000 liters of clean and fresh water.

The rapid growth of e-commerce has revolutionized the way we shop, bringing convenience and a wide range of products at our fingertips. The convenience of buying electronics online has led to an increase in the consumption and disposal of electronic devices. E- waste includes devices such as smartphones, laptops, computers, tablets, and other gadgets. As technology continues to advance rapidly, consumers often keep upgrading their devices, leading to a significant amount of e-waste.

According to UNITAR, one million tons of e-waste will be generated in 2022, an 82 percent increase from 2010. This is expected to increase by 32 percent to 82 million tons in 2030.

In 2021, alone the world generated around 57.4 million metric tons of waste, a figure expected to rise in the coming years. India currently ranks third among the largest e-waste generating countries globally.

E-Commerce giants such as Amazon, Flipkart, BigCommerce and Shopify have contributed to this problem by making it easier for consumers to buy new electronics and dispose of old ones. Furthermore, the packaging material used for shipping these products adds to the waste problem, creating a mountain of plastics and other non- biodegradable materials.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development is calling for innovative business models and strong policies to ensure sustainable digital growth. Stressing the need to balance economic development with environmental and social responsibility, UNCTAD recommends integrating sustainability into digital business strategies. These include promoting digital inclusion, reducing e-waste, and enhancing data privacy and security.

Strong regulatory frameworks and international cooperation are essential to foster a digital economy that benefits everyone, reduces inequality, and supports long-term environmental balance.

“The digital economy is central to global growth and development opportunities, so we need to implement the practices that will take us to a win-win space and not against our also important objectives of environmental sustainability and our commitments to climate change,” Rebeca Grynspan concluded.

11-07-2024

Dipankar Deka is the student of Communication & Journalism Department, Gauhati University

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