The digital carbon footprint reflects the environmental impact generated by our everyday technological activities, from sending an email to joining a video call or storing files in the cloud. Although the digital world may seem intangible, each action requires devices, networks, and data centers that consume energy and produce emissions. It is estimated that this sector already accounts for between 2% and 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with projections that it could double in the coming years if mitigation measures are not implemented.
In addition to emissions linked to energy consumption, the digital footprint also includes the generation of electronic waste derived from the manufacturing, use, and disposal of devices. The full life cycle of a technological device involves the extraction of natural resources, energy-intensive industrial processes, and, at the end of its useful life, a growing challenge for recycling and waste management.
To reduce this impact, various strategies are proposed: improving the energy efficiency of devices and data centers, shifting toward renewable energy use in digital infrastructure, promoting equipment recycling and reuse, and adopting more responsible digital practices on a daily basis. Optimizing device usage time, choosing sustainable technology providers, and reducing unnecessary cloud storage are concrete examples.
Organizations such as ECODES, through its CeroCO2 initiative, offer calculation tools, reduction plans, and compensation schemes for emissions that cannot be eliminated. Likewise, efforts are being made across different sectors to promote environmental education so that both companies and individual users become aware and take an active role in reducing the digital footprint.