In 2020, digital economy emissions accounted for 1.5 to 3.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions

At the launch of the Digital Economy Report 2024, UN Trade and Development Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan underscored the urgent need for environmentally sustainable and inclusive digitalization strategies.
▶️ In 2020, digital economy emissions accounted for 1.5 to 3.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
▶️ In 2022, data centers consumed 460 terawatt hours of electricity. This amount of energy could power about 42 million US homes for a year. This figure is expected to double by 2026.
▶️ Digital-related waste increased by 30% between 2010 and 2022, reaching 10.5 million tons globally.
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) calls for stronger environmental regulations and investments in renewable energy to mitigate the ecological footprint of digital technologies. Explore the report: unctad.org/der2024