It's a boom for the digital industry's CO2 emissions, which will grow exponentially by 775% by 2040, going from 1.6% in 2017 to 14%.
This is indicated by the study published in the journal Nature by researchers from the Chinese University of Wuhan, which identifies the impact of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, which requires a large amount of energy to process calculations, among the main causes of the increase. complexes, and the problem of disposing of technological devices.
The problem has now prompted some experts to underline the urgency of immediate action and to propose possible strategies to make this sector more sustainable.
If the digital sector were a nation, it would rank fifth among the largest emitters of carbon dioxide in the world, contributing 3.8% of total emissions: to give an idea, this is four times higher than that of France.
In addition to the CO2 emissions generated by digital devices, which rose from 2% in 2008 to 3.7% in 2020, the impact of energy-intensive technologies such as AI is also of particular concern.
Added to this is the further problem inherent in the disposal of technological products, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, entails environmental risks due to dangerous substances such as mercury, lead and cadmium which can contaminate air and soil, and also contributes to deforestation with the mining processes of these materials.
Just think that global e-waste production was 53.6 million tons in 2019, and is expected to reach 74.7 million tons by 2030.
“Considering this worrying scenario, it is imperative to adopt sustainability strategies also in this area and implement technologies that respect the balance between technological progress and environmental responsibility”, says Davide Bianchi, Technical Manager of Mia-Platform, a Milan tech company specialized in the creation of digital platforms and applications.
“Building a sustainable digital future is an investment in the common good and for the generations to come – continues Bianchi – and can also represent a competitive advantage for companies attentive to preserving our Planet”.
According to experts at Mia-Platform, the sector has the potential to reduce its global emissions and there are already possible strategies the industry can adopt.
An example of this is software such as kube-green, created by Davide Bianchi, which allows for a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions from unused infrastructures that consume electricity outside working hours, offering the possibility of personalizing the moment in which turn them off and on again.
Other solutions include the development of software designed to maximize energy efficiency and, at the same time, reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a minimum, and collaboration with companies or associations that favor sustainability, for example by using green energy or by working to extend life use or dispose of technological products correctly at the end of their life.
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