The impact of ICT services on environmental sustainability

Abstract

We are currently experiencing some of the biggest changes the world has ever seen. The digital revolution is transforming the way we interact, how we live, work and spend leisure time. Digital services have become an increasingly ubiquitous part of the lives of many people around the world. There is no doubt that this brings many benefits, but we must also bear in mind that there is an associated environmental cost, from the manufacture of the necessary infrastructure, the energy used to operate the services and the disposal of obsolete equipment. With more and more activities online, concern about the environmental impact of digital services draws attention to the intensity with which the energy network is placed under pressure. This issue of intensive use of the energy grid has been the subject of investigation for some time, but results have varied from study to study, thus weakening the robustness of any conclusions drawn from the respective assessments. The objective of this study is to identify some nuances of the influence of ICTs on environmental indicators. The methodology adopted was bibliographic and documentary research with an exploratory nature, as there are still not many quantitative studies of this kind in our country. Preliminary results show that in our case and in other similar cases, the environmental damage caused by the lack of strategy in the disposal of electronic equipment is even more worrying. It follows that the policy of the ICT industry and the patterns of its use are highly important, as it does not matter how small or large the order of effects is. It is suggested that environmental awareness is the key to opening the doors to sustainable practices and leading to the well-being of Humanity without harming the environment.