RT null
T1 The Growing Footprint of Digitalisation - Foresight Brief
T2 الأثر المتنامي للرقمنة
T2 La huella creciente de la digitalización - Foresight Informe
T2 L’empreinte croissante de la numérisation - Note Prospective
T2 Растущее влияние цифровизации - АНАЛИТИЧЕСКИЙ обзор
T2 数字化的足迹与日俱增 - 前瞻研究 简报
A1 United Nations Environment Programme, 
K1 digital technology
K1 internet
K1 energy technology
K1 energy conservation
K1 waste management
K1 energy consumption
YR 2021
FD 2021-11
LK https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/37439
UL https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/37439
NO Since 2010, the number of internet users worldwide has doubled, and the global internet traffic has grown 12-fold. The digital services that we enjoy are sometimes referred to as “dematerialized technologies”, but is this really the case? Computers, servers and other electronic devices require large amounts of natural resources. The energy to run them emits high amounts of CO2 , and programmed obsolescence and the low percentage of recycling are generating e-waste. The vast majority of data in the cloud are not used. Without denying the many benefits brought by these technologies, including for the environment, it is important for users, services providers and policy makers to understand what the impacts are and to learn how we can move towards greener digital technologies.
DS UN Environment Document Repository
RD Sep 23, 2026