Isn't the impact of digital technology higher than that?

illustration: wind turbines and solar panels

At a time when computers, smartphones, tablets and connected objects are an integral part of everyday life, many users are wondering: **isn't the carbon footprint of digital technology underestimated? **Between devices, streaming videos, videoconferencing and emails, digital technology seems omnipresent and energy-intensive. How does Nos Gestes Climat actually assess this issue? Let's explore this topical subject together.

Understanding the impact of digital technology: production and use

**The carbon impact of digital technology **is mainly concentrated in the manufacture of equipment: computers, telephones, televisions, internet boxes, connected objects, etc. Why? Because the extraction of raw materials, the manufacture of electronic components and assembly on a global scale require large amounts of energy and resources.
For example, the production of a laptop or smartphone alone can account for up to 75-90% of its footprint over its entire life cycle.
"Dematerialised" uses also have an impact
The other aspect of the impact concerns usage: the electricity consumed to charge, view, store or transfer content. This includes:

  • Video streaming (Netflix, YouTube, etc.)
  • Video conferencing (Zoom, Teams, etc.)
  • Emails and file transfers
  • Cloud storage and SaaS (Software as a Service) usage. Each of these uses not only requires your device, but also telecoms networks and data centres, sometimes on the other side of the world.

The limitations of current measurement

A subject still under debate
Today, **accurately assessing the carbon footprint of digital technology **remains subject to many uncertainties. Technical and institutional players are working to better measure the emissions generated by these dematerialised uses, but the calculations are complex.

  • Data centres vary in terms of their efficiency, power supply and location (coal, nuclear, hydroelectric, etc.).
  • Transmission networks are evolving (fibre, 5G, copper, etc.), changing consumption and footprint per gigabyte.
  • User behaviour (video quality, multiple or shared use, device switch-on times) makes it difficult to generalise.
  • Some of the emissions associated with device use are already included in electricity consumption figures.

Our estimation method in Nos Gestes Climat

Use of the Base Carbone®
Nos Gestes Climat is based on the values available in ADEME's Base Carbone®, a European benchmark. This data compiles life cycle analyses covering the production, transport, use and end of life of devices.
In concrete terms, the calculator:

  • Takes into account the quantity and type of equipment you own (and their replacement cycle).
  • Applies "per use" emission factors for certain services (streaming, cloud, etc.).
    However, it also recognises its limitations: **some very recent uses or services **are not yet well documented or integrated, and current averages may underestimate or overestimate certain impacts.

Uncertainties, but a constant effort to improve

An evolving digital footprint
The reality is that, over time, digital usage is evolving very rapidly (increased video resolution , proliferation of connected objects, development of AI, etc.), which will require constant refinement of carbon models and benchmarks.

  • New studies (ADEME, The Shift Project, Green IT, etc.) regularly provide updates and recommendations to improve measurement.
  • Nos Gestes Climat is committed to taking updated data into account as soon as it becomes reliable and consensus-based.

How can we reduce our digital impact in practical terms?

Despite the uncertainties, it is still possible to take action to reduce the carbon footprint of digital technology: