The role of digital content consumption in environmentally sustainable lifestyles

Abstract

Internet access has reached ca. 60% of the global population, with an average individual spending > 40% of the waking life on the Internet. We assess the environmental impacts of digital content consumption against the Earth’s ecological budget, finding that web surfing, social media, video and music streaming, and video conferencing could consume on average ∼40% of the per capita carbon budget consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as well as 55% of the per capita carrying capacity for mineral and metal resources depletion and > 10% for other five impact categories. Electricity decarbonisation would mitigate the climate impacts of Internet consumption substantially, but other impacts due primarily to the mining activities linked to electronic devices would remain of concern. A synergistic combination of rapid decarbonisation, electronic devices’ energy efficiency improvement, lifetime extension, and recycling, and behavioural change is paramount to prevent the increasing Internet demand from hindering sustainable lifestyles.