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Internet Emissions; Need to Know
Whilst loading a single webpage generates a relatively minute amount of carbon emissions, with over 5.5 million active internet users it quickly accumilates.
A Growing Share of Global Emissions
The internet and the infrastructure that supports it are responsible for around 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. That's roughly on par with the airline industry. Every video streamed, search made or email sent uses energy, much of which still comes from carbon-intensive sources.
Source: BBC Future – Why your internet habits are not as clean as you think
Key Contributors of Internet Emissions
The environmental cost of being online goes beyond just turning on a computer. Here's where much of the energy is used:
Manufacturing and Shipping
To keep the internet running, tech companies need to produce and transport a wide range of hardware, including:
- Computers
- Smartphones
- Servers
These processes involve energy-intensive manufacturing and international shipping, both of which add to emissions.
Powering and Cooling
Once devices are in use, they need electricity for both operation and cooling. This power can come from a variety of sources, including:
- Coal
- Natural Gas
- Nuclear Energy
- Renewables
The carbon footprint depends heavily on how the electricity is generated.
Search Engines
Each time you use a search engine, your query is handled by several servers. This back-and-forth uses energy, contributing to emissions with every search.
Servers
Servers are essential to internet infrastructure, but their production and operation are energy-intensive. Hosting content, storing data and running websites all rely on these systems.
Web Browsers and Websites
The average web page produces about 2 grams of CO2 per view. That might not sound like much, but with billions of page views every day, it adds up quickly.
Emails also have a carbon cost. A short message might produce as little as 0.2 grams of CO2, while one with attachments can reach up to 26 grams.
Source: The Carbon Literacy Project – The Carbon Cost of an Email