What is the carbon footprint of the internet?

What is the carbon footprint of the internet?

Most people are aware of the large carbon footprint of vehicles and agriculture, but cutting down our internet usage could have a massive positive environmental impact.


Asked by: Carol Lennox, Bromley

Connecting together all the world’s smartphones, laptops, desktops and other gadgetry, the infrastructure of the internet uses a lot of energy, and that in turn gives it a hefty carbon footprint. According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group, the internet is responsible for roughly one billion tonnes of greenhouse gases a year, or around two per cent of world emissions.

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