Digital Technology and Sustainability
We often think about the carbon footprint of travel, food and energy, but what about our digital lives? From our laptops and phones, emails and cloud storage, to video streaming and AI tools, every online activity uses energy somewhere.
This page explores the hidden environmental impact of technology and offers practical tips to help you use digital tools more thoughtfully.
Technology might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of reducing your impact on the environment and your carbon footprint, the technology sector is responsible for around 4% of global carbon emissions and this figure is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades.
Many of us rely on our phones and laptops, we rarely leave the house without them and it’s hard to imagine our lives without them. It's hard to imagine modern life without the ability to communicate instantly, access information, work remotely, navigate unfamiliar places, or stay connected with friends and family. Clearly, all this technology has great benefits, so we’re not suggesting that we need to give up the tools we all rely on, but use our devices more mindfully and reduce our environment impact wherever we can.
Every mobile phone purchased, every TV left on standby, every email sent or photo stored relies on data centres, networks, and devices has a carbon footprint. Behind our screens are energy-hungry data centres, data networks and cables, servers, and manufacturing processes that consume electricity, water and raw materials. The environmental impact of our digital lives comes not only from using technology, but also from making the devices themselves and storing and processing the ever-growing amount of data we create.
These impacts can seem invisible, but they quickly add up. The average online activity of a UK citizen produces around 8.6kg of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions each week, roughly the same as driving a petrol car for 21-30 miles. The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is adding a new dimension to this challenge. AI systems require significant computing power and are driving rapid expansion in data centre capacity, electricity consumption and water use around the world.
Many of these issues are difficult to solve as individuals. Decisions about data centres, electricity generation, network infrastructure and technology design often sit with governments and large companies. But by understanding the hidden environmental costs of technology and taking practical steps where we can, we can help create a more sustainable digital future.
Practical Actions
The factsheets below explore some of the key areas where our digital choices affect the environment and offer practical, realistic actions you can take.
Energy Use
Every click, stream, search and video call relies on electricity, but how much energy does our digital world actually use? This factsheet explores the hidden energy demand behind everyday technology, from the devices on our desks to the data centres that keep the internet running.
Hardware
The environmental impact of technology starts long before a device reaches your hands. Mining raw materials, manufacturing components and global supply chains all contribute to the footprint of our phones, laptops and tablets. This factsheet explores why keeping devices for longer is one of the most powerful sustainability choices we can make. You'll find practical tips on extending the life of phones, tablets and laptops, advice on repair and refurbishment, and guidance on responsible recycling.
Data Centres and Digital Storage
‘Cloud storage’ such as Google Drive, OneDrive or iCloud, may feel invisible, but every photo, document and email is stored in a physical data centre powered by real energy and resources. As demand for digital services grows, so does the environmental impact of storing our data. This factsheet explains what happens behind the scenes, why data centres matter, and how simple actions like clearing old files and managing cloud storage can help reduce unnecessary demand.
Emails
Emails are so much a part of everyday life that we rarely think about their wider impact. Yet every message sent, received and stored requires energy and digital infrastructure. This factsheet explores the hidden footprint of email, while offering practical ways to manage your inbox more effectively and sustainably.
AI Use
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how we work, search, write and create, but it also requires significant energy, computing power and water resources. AI is rapidly becoming a increasingly significant environmental issue, as AI is becoming embedded in more aspects of daily life and global demand grows rapidly. This factsheet explores the environmental impact of AI, how to use more efficiently, and where small changes can reduce unnecessary resource use.
Online Habits
Many of our everyday online activities have environmental impacts that are easy to miss. From video streaming and web searches to device charging and mobile data use, small actions quickly add up. This factsheet brings together practical tips for reducing your digital footprint without giving up the services you value.
These resources were researched and written by Hazel Bradley, Deborah Perkin and Zoe Cuckow as part of our Carbon Literacy Training in May 2026. To find out more about St James’s Carbon Literacy Training courses, see our latest information here. Given how rapidly technology (especially AI) is changing, some of the statistics may be quickly outdated, so please bear this in mind when using these statistics, and you can contact us with updated statistics or questions.
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