The Internet's Footprint

https://blueandgreentomorrow.com/environment/internet-carbon-footprint-becoming-dangerous-concern/

An environmental footprint, also known as an ecological footprint, is a measurement of the effects a company, person or activity has on the environment. It is measured by considering the multiple impacts certain activities and industries have on water, land, air, carbon release, etc. For example, ecologist will measure qualities such as the amount of waste produced or how many non-renewable resources used up to determine the environmental footprint it left on the planet. The Internet and it's digital technologies are believed to be accountable for 4% of greenhouse gas emissions.

How the internet has reduced environmental footprint

The internet has reduced ecological footprints because it has limited conventional transaction activities that would harmfully impact the environment. The internet supplies online music streaming and music downloads to replace CDs and records which eliminates the waste of production of the tangible items. Applications like zoom and facetime can reduce the need to fly or drive to and from certain areas for face-to-face conversation. Technology and the internet have diminished the need for paper with digital alternatives to books, paying bills, and other traditionally printed necessities. This saves trees, energy, and other natural resources. Platforms like the internet and social media also make people more aware of the environmental footprints they leave and provide tips on how to reduce them.

How the internet leaves a footprint

Measuring the Internet

Before calculating how much emissions the internet releases it is important to define what the internet is and what aspects of the internet come into account when measuring it’s footprint. This is why analysts and ecologists can only estimate how effective the internet is on the environment. According to Jon Koomey, author and researcher, the internet is made of three main components: end-user equipment, data centers, and access networks.

End-user equipment

End-user equipment is any type of computing, communication, or display device that utilizes the internet. This includes laptops, tablets, phones, wireless routers, televisions, and monitors. There are over 1.6 billion connected devices in the world and each individual device uses carbon emissions from manufacturing. Even though singular devices release less emissions, the amount of devices total can use up to 6.2% of the world's electricity from grids generated by coal, oil, and natural gas.

https://www.climatecare.org/resources/news/infographic-carbon-footprint-internet/

Data centers

Data centers keep the internet running, but use up tons of electricity. They need a lot of power to cool IT equipment and power distribution to support their servers. Data centers are supposed to save energy because they consolidate power used for computers while using less servers. However, the electricity used to power them is still using large amounts of non-renewable energy(coal and nuclear power stations) and are consequently polluting the planet.