{"id":2459,"date":"2024-02-17T12:11:34","date_gmt":"2024-02-17T11:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.htt.it\/?p=2459"},"modified":"2026-02-14T22:58:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T21:58:40","slug":"environment-the-hidden-co2-emissions-of-the-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.htt.it\/en\/environment-the-hidden-co2-emissions-of-the-internet\/","title":{"rendered":"Environment, the hidden CO2 emissions of the Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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In today’s digitized world, there are few things that seem as intangible as the Internet. It’s our access to information instantly, our communication, and our endless entertainment. But there’s a dark aspect that often escapes attention: the environmental impact of our online activities. Behind our daily web browsing hides a world of CO2<\/sub><\/strong> equivalent emissions 1<\/a><\/sup>that contribute to climate change in ways that might surprise you.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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The sources of CO2<\/sub> emissions <\/strong><\/h2>\n

When we think about sources of CO2<\/sub> emissions, we often imagine cars, factories, or power plants. However, the technology industry, including the infrastructure that supports the Internet, has become one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The increasing use of data, streaming videos, cloud computing, and connected devices has led to an exponential rise in energy consumption.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Some examples of emissions you might not know <\/h2>\n

Did you know that sending an email can release 17 grams or more of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? Or that, according to a study by Purdue University, a one-hour Zoom call produces between 150 and 1,000 grams of carbon dioxide? And using only audio in Zoom calls reduces emissions by up to 96%?<\/p>\n

The major “polluters” are certainly Data Centers, which require enormous amounts of energy to cool the servers and keep them operational 24\/7.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Data Center role<\/h2>\n

According to some estimates, the data center industry consumes about 2% of global electricity, with a constant growth driven by the high demand for computing power, especially for Artificial Intelligence. Currently, according to the Global Carbon Project, if the internet were a country, it would be the 4th largest emitter of CO2<\/sub> in the world and the 3rd largest consumer of electricity.<\/p>\n

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La The Need to Improve Efficiency<\/h2>\n

Fortunately, there are ongoing efforts to make the internet more sustainable. Large companies are investing in more energy-efficient technologies, such as using renewable energy to power data centers and optimizing network protocols to reduce broadband consumption.<\/p>\n

Taking Google as an example, the search engine aims to be carbon-free by 2030 and already prioritizes green and fast sites in search results, eco-friendly routes in Google Maps, and flights with lower CO2<\/sub> emissions in Google Flights.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Italian’s Energy Mix<\/h2>\n

But nations have also begun a journey to produce electricity in a more sustainable manner. Italy aims to bring the production of electricity from renewable sources to 30% by 2030.<\/p>\n

The following graph shows how the energy mix has changed over the years, with the possibility of viewing that of every other country in the world as well.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n