Streaming video is a fairly low-emitting activity, especially compared to driving to a cinema, for instance. As consumers, we can further reduce our environmental footprint by using smaller devices and screens, which consume less electricity. Replacing devices less often can also help, since the production phase accounts for around 80% of the lifecycle carbon emissions of mobile devices (and about a third for televisions), and electronic waste is a growing problem across the world.
Much less data-intensive digital activities such as e-mail have also drawn significant and misleading media attention regarding their carbon footprint. Recent headlines in the Financial Times, the Guardian, and Bloomberg Green have suggested that cutting back on e-mails could lead to substantial emission reductions – over 16,000 tonnes per year in the UK if every adult sent one less unnecessary e-mail per day. These claims are based on analysis by OVO Energy which assume that one unnecessary e-mail emits 1gCO2, which come from back-of-the-envelope calculations from 10 years ago. In reality, emissions from e-mails today are much lower, and experts have explained how and why these headlines vastly overestimate the potential emission reductions from avoided emails.
Technology companies can continue to play a big role in reducing the environmental impact of streaming, including through further efforts to increase energy efficiency – both in the near-term with new technologies and through developing next-generation technologies – and investing in renewable energy to power their data centres and networks.
Sustainable design and coding could also help, such as further improving video compression. A recent study explored the potential energy and emission reductions of shifting YouTube music videos to audio only when playing in the background.
It is important to keep in mind the scale of emissions from digital technologies compared to other sectors, with digital technologies accounting for around 1.5% of global carbon emissions.
All sectors and technologies are needed to help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and digital technologies are no exception. In fact, digital technologies, such as AI, could help accelerate climate action. But without sound climate policies, AI could end up just helping to make oil extraction cheaper or extending the lifetime of coal plants.
What is indisputable is the need to keep a close eye on the explosive growth of Netflix and other digital technologies and services to ensure society is receiving maximum benefits, while minimising the negative consequences – including on electricity use and carbon emissions.
Instead of relying on misleading media coverage, this will require rigorous analysis, corporate leadership, sound policy and informed citizens.
