Data Is 'The New Oil'

Most people don't realise that the data they use (sending emails, watching videos, playing games and reading blogs) generates, like oil, a substantial carbon footprint. Datacentres are big business and most countries welcome them as job creators. Only The Netherlands and Singapore are currently considering moritoria on new developments. Chris Stokel-Walker points out that it's very difficult to put a precise figure on the emissions generated by an average user of data (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/31/concerned-about-your-data-use-here-is-the-carbon-footprint-of-an-average-day-of-emails-whatsapps-and-more). It's claimed, however, that, in 2023, Americans used 100tn megabytes of data. Estimates of the world energy used by the internet, vary between 4 and 10%. Both are very substantial values. Even watching 1 hour of Netflix, is equivalent to boiling a kettle of water. Both generate around 36g of carbon dioxide. This might be a small contribution but it all adds up to enhanced global heating/climate change.