The digital sector is responsible for more than 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to Green IT association. That is more than the emissions from all the air traffic in the world (2.5%).
Is electronic communication more environmental-friendly?
When it comes to sustainability, make sure to separate the facts from the myths. A wide-spread message is that you can "go green" by only using digital media ... But that's simply not true.
If digital emissions were a country, it would be 5.5 the size of France
While paper and print have long been scrutinised for their carbon footprint, a recent report from the Green IT association sheds light on the substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by the digital industry.
The Green IT found that the digital sector is responsible for as much as 3.4% of the world's annual greenhouse gas emissions, reported LeMonde in February 2025.
Another way to say it is: If digital technology were a country, its emissions would be equivalent to 5.5 times those of France or twice those of Canada, as reported by Francetv.info.
About Green IT Environmental Impact reports
The Green IT Association is a global initiative with collaborations based in Netherlands, United Kingdom, Switzerland and France. Their Green IT Benchmark report shows how digital technology now alone consumes 40% of an individual’s sustainable annual carbon budget, based on a lifestyle that would follow the Paris Agreement to keep global warming below 1.5°C. This means that the level of digital consumption is disproportionate compared to essential human needs such as food, water, and shelter. The report, based on data from 2023, is a reminder of how much the internet is depleting our planet's resources.
Where the emissions come from
Almost half of the calculated global annual emissions comes from power and operations of data centers, telephone networks and servers running artificial intelligence, according to the report. The other half is caused by private and professional end-use devices, where energy for powering the use of the device is the main part.
How the emissions increase
Climate impact will continue to increase, given the "systemic increase in the number of equipment, uses, and the number of users", the Green IT report points out. There are over five billion internet users worldwide, and the number has increased by 30% in just four years. Each user, on average, owns six connected devices, including smartphones, computers, televisions, and smart speakers.
The use of AI was also still in its infancy when data for this study was collected – and it still is. In 2023, 4% of the digital technology's impact came from AI servers. As AI adoption accelerates, so too does its environmental footprint.
Link to the Green IT Environmental Impact reports.
Messages like "go green" by going digital are misleading
“Go paperless”, “go green” or “save trees” are common messages that many organisations use to promote a switch from communication on paper to to electronic transactions and communications. The organisation Two Sides monitors this type of messages in order to debunk the myths.
"These sort of messages give the impression that electronic communication is more environmentally friendly than paper-based communication", writes TwoSides.
So, what's the truth? As a result from the engagement by Two Sides, over 1000 of the world’s largest organisations have removed misleading statements which claimed that moving to digital communications would be better for the environment.
Two Sides' reports show that the environmental impact of digital technology is often underestimated. The environmental footprint of digital technology is large, and it hasn't stopped growing. We all need to be mindful of the hidden digital footprint.
The ICT industry footprint is large – and growing
The information and communication technology, ICT industry sector, is "the manufacturing and services industries whose products primarily fulfil or enable the function of information processing and communication by electronic means”, defined by OECD. According to the European commission in 2020 the ICT industry accounts for 5-9% of the world's electricity use. The emissions from the energy use alone stood for more than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.
"The growth of the ICT sector in recent years has been unprecedented and is projected to keep that steady pace," writes the mobile network operators' organisation GSMA Europe, which also states that there are growing concerns about the industry’s environmental footprint.
Reducing the ICT sector carbon emissions also goes beyond meeting the energy efficiency goals. It includes "more complex challenges, such as finding ways to ensure sustainable supply chains", according to GSMA.
Consider the full footprint
When considering the climate impact and greenhouse gas emissions, we have to look at all the relevant factors, says for example Bill Gates in his book How to avoid a climate disaster:
- How are things made
- How are things grown
- From where does the electricity come
- How is everything transported
Impact from production, usage and waste disposal as well as from raw material extraction and energy consumption throughout the life cycle needs to be counted.
In 2019, the ICT industry was responsible for a gigantic 53.6 million metric tonnes (Mt) of e-waste across the world, reported TwoSides. That’s equivalent to the weight of 350 cruise ships. The waste disposal has since then gone up by an alarming 21% over the past five years, and recycling activities are not keeping pace with the growth.
Raw materials from digital equipment, servers and power generators are often finite, precious and non-renewable. They are also notoriously difficult to recycle. The mining and extraction of rare earth minerals for digital devices puts further strain on global resources and human working conditions on Earth.
Calling out greenwash statements
TwoSides calls out greenwashing. Over 750 of the world’s largest organisations have removed misleading statements that said digital communications was better for the environment. In our increasingly digital world electronic and paper-based communications coexist and are often complementary. Help set the facts straight.