Amid increasing industrial and vehicular pollution, we often overlook another culprit of environmental degradation: the internet. It is a legitimate concern in this era of ubiquitous access to the World Wide Web.
Constant web searches, gaming, and emails generate greenhouse gases. Shockingly, the carbon footprint of gadgets accounts for up to 3.7% of global emissions. Some estimates predict it may even double by 2025 – rather dampening news for the New Year. These numbers seem low, but are actually comparable to the eco footprint of the aviation sector.
What makes this situation worrisome is that many don’t connect internet use to pollution. How is uploading an Insta reel or listening to a favorite song damaging? However, the grams of carbon dioxide add up, exacerbated by the massive data centers and servers. In 2020, the BBC estimated that each individual contributes 912 lbs of carbon dioxide in a year.
Let us assess how we can make our internet usage more sustainable. It is better to take proactive action than be left energy-deprived.
#1 Examining How We Use Digital Entertainment
Accessing entertainment online – Netflix, games, YouTube – is a massive source of internet pollution. It eats up energy in several ways, from household electricity for charging devices to streaming content on Wi-Fi. Many compulsively play a YouTube video in the background while finishing chores. Unwinding with a video game is second nature.
Checking our multimedia usage is the key to adopting cleaner habits. For example, do you always need to stream high-definition videos or a lower resolution can suffice? Must you watch a television program on a mobile network, or can you wait for Wi-Fi accessibility? Likewise, going to sleep with YouTube videos playing isn’t the best idea for the planet. Changing your autoplay settings can tackle this.
Gaming is a worrying area, as streaming online games and downloading updates is energy-intensive. Moreover, many beloved titles like Roblox and Fortnite can be immensely gripping. It has led some US parents to file a video game lawsuit against addictive gaming features like feedback loops. Microtransactions and psychological tricks can push people to spend more and yet more time on games.
Sustainable gaming will involve behavioral changes, like balancing screen time with other hobbies. TorHoerman Law advises keeping gaming logs to track the hours spent on the pursuit and the associated expenditure.
Another heartening development is the Play2Act initiative by the UN Development Programme. It encourages gamers and companies to unite for environmental action and instill green themes into the content.
#2 Changing How We Communicate Through Email and Social Media
Even those not into digital entertainment likely use the internet for communication. Every email you send and each selfie you upload on social media contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. The connection does not seem apparent at first. But you need only think about the energy source powering up your high-speed connection: the burning of fossil fuels.
The Digital Economy Report 2024 found that the growing ICT sector can emit over 1.6 gigatons of CO2 equivalents, comprising around 3% of GHG emissions. This statistic can worsen with artificial intelligence, blockchain, and IoT technologies.
It is vital not to sideline the power of little changes in these circumstances. For example, reconsider if those thank-you emails are necessary. Does the Zoom meeting you’re on mandate video? SMS or text-based communication remains the most environment-friendly approach. Assessing the stark consequences of global warming should encourage us to send fewer selfies on WhatsApp.
In fact, even scrolling your social media feed needs consideration. One doom-scrolling person may not do much damage, but it builds up when we all stay glued to our devices into the night. It is well worth examining these habits not only for the planet but also for self-care. The good old book before bed does not harm the planet and promotes better sleep.
#3 Extending the Lifetime of Electronic Devices
Behavioral actions make internet usage more sustainable as more people adopt them. However, at a broader level, we must work on decarbonizing electricity and extending the lifetime of electronic items.
Laptops and smartphones are preferred choices for browsing the internet. They all use minerals and metals as raw materials, and both are perishable. A Nature Communications study found that if the lifespan of electronic devices doubles, the need for minerals and metals can reduce from 55 to 29%.
Changing our usage patterns can improve the lifetime of our gadgets. How many tabs must you keep open at a time? An overworked processor struggles with ventilation, which reduces its useful life. Similarly, shutting down your computer at the end of the day lets you benefit from software updates and patches. Plus, it prevents your PC from vulnerabilities that can age it early.
Making a tangible difference will need governmental involvement through steps like the right to repair. In 2021, the European Union mandated that some appliances, such as laptops and smartphones, can be repaired for 10 years. It has encouraged users to extend their usage of gadgets without purchasing new ones. This habit reduces e-waste and clears landfills.
As the world advances toward more powerful digital technologies, sustainability is paramount. Monitoring our internet usage is a strategic starting point. It will help the transition toward a circular economy, wherein each step of digitalization is green. Also, it will build a more equitable society. Developed and developing nations can bear the costs of digitization.
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