Where digital emissions come from: the physical infrastructure of the Internet
In 2019, The Shift Project estimated that the internet already generated 4% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, growing by about 6% every year. That was more than aviation at that time and even before carbon-intensive AI models became mainstream.
But where do digital emissions come from?
The Internet feels invisible, but it’s not. When we brows to buy, scroll our social feed, watch videos, or store files in the cloud, it’s easy to forget that the internet isn’t floating in the air. Behind every search, email, or video call lies a vast physical infrastructure, all powered by electricity and built from real materials, both generating emissions.
The four physical layers of the Internet
The physical infrastructure of the Internet can be summarised in four main layers, each playing a specific role and consuming energy in its own way.
1. Data Centers: the brains of the Internet
These are the buildings where the internet lives. They host thousands (and some even millions!) of servers, storage systems, cooling units, and backup power supplies.
Function: Process and store data for websites, emails, AI, apps, etc.
Energy use: Very high and consumed by ca. 40% computing and 40% cooling
Why: Servers run 24/7, requiring constant power and climate control
2. Network Infrastructure: the circulatory system
This is how data travels from data centers to user devices. It includes fiber-optic cables, routers, switches, and base stations.
Function: Moves data packets across the world
Energy use: Moderate but constant
Why: The network operates continuously to maintain connectivity, even when data flow is low
3. Edge servers & CDNs: the local boosters
To reduce distance and speed up delivery, tech and content delivery companies place smaller local servers (edge servers or content delivery networks) near users.
Function: Store frequently accessed content closer to the user
Energy use: Moderate, but growing
Why: Edge servers and content delivery networks help reduce long-distance traffic but add new local infrastructure
4. User Devices: the everyday access points
From laptops and smartphones to Wi-Fi routers and ConnectedTVs, our personal electronics are the internet’s front line.
Function: Access and display content
Energy use: High in total
Why: Billions of devices charging, syncing, and streaming daily. Even standby and background activities consume power continuously
The two faces of Internet emissions
All this infrastructure generates emissions in two main ways: through the energy it consumes while operating, and through the resources required to build it in the first place.
Even before a single byte of data is transmitted, embodied emissions have already occurred through mining, production, and global transport. And once systems are online, operational emissions keep flowing every second electricity is used.
Embodied emissions: from manufacturing, transporting, and disposing of infrastructure
Examples: Building a data center, producing chips, mining materials
Main drivers: Industrial processes, logistics
Operational emissions: from the electricity that powers the infrastructure
Examples: Powering servers, routers, and devices
Main drivers: Grid energy mix (fossil vs renewable)
How to reduce Internet emissions: making the invisible visible
Lao Tzu once wrote: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
By reading this article and becoming more aware about how the Internet generates emissions, you have already taken a step toward reducing them.
Here few other small steps you can take immediately:
Start noticing when and how you use the Internet
Ask yourself if running that search, storing that picture, or sending that email is strictly necessary. Start choosing not to when those are not needed
Stay tuned and follow FRA to hear about other steps you can take