Reducing emissions from the rapidly expanding digital sector while expanding connectivity for those without internet access requires better data on energy usage and emissions within the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
The World Bank report, Measuring the Emissions & Energy Footprint of the ICT Sector: Implications for Climate Action, brings together data and analysis on the energy and emissions across 30 countries from their telecommunications, connectivity networks, data centers, and consumer devices. It also addresses the policy and regulatory implications of this data and dives deeper into these issues through country case studies.
- Achieving the ambitious goals of emissions reduction and global connectivity requires precise data on digital sector energy use and emissions. Currently, the ICT sector lacks country-based data on sector emissions, which hinders effective policymaking. Comprehensive tracking of subsectors like telecommunications and data centers will help guide effective interventions.
- To align with global climate objectives, emissions from the broader digital sector must be slashed by nearly half by 2030. The sector is headed in the right direction as a leader in renewable energy adoption, accounting for 60 percent of renewable power purchases in 2021. Tech companies are among the top consumers of electricity globally, indicating their potential to influence emission reduction and promote sustainability.
- Collaboration between the digital and energy sectors can cut ICT emissions and encourage sustainable energy use. Examples, like South Africa’s energy market liberalization which opened the way for Amazon to invest in one the country's largest solar farms to supply renewables for its data center, and Brazil’s direct generation regulation, which has enlivened the country's renewable industry efforts with some telecom operators now running their networks on renewable energy, show how regulatory and financial incentives can encourage greater use of clean energy in the digital sector.