Environmental issues

Computers use electricity, and servers need extra energy for cooling. They can support useful services, research and more efficient systems, but their energy demand can increase emissions when electricity comes from fossil fuels. The IEA's 2025 Energy and AI report estimated that data centres produced about 180 million tonnes of indirect CO₂ emissions from electricity in 2024, around 0.5% of global fuel-combustion emissions. The report also describes ways AI may help optimise energy systems. These figures cover data centres generally, not AI alone; see the IEA report.

Making devices uses energy and finite raw materials. Discarded devices create electronic waste (e-waste), which can contain hazardous substances; repairing, reusing and recycling devices can reduce waste and recover materials. The 2024 Global E-waste Monitor reported 62 million tonnes generated worldwide in 2022 and only 22.3% documented as formally collected and recycled. Replacing devices can bring useful improvements, but longer-lasting products and safe recycling reduce environmental harm.

Technology also helps to reduce environmental harm:

• Smart meters and thermostats show how much energy a home uses, and help people cut waste.
• Video calls and remote working can replace some journeys, reducing transport emissions.
• Sensors and computer models monitor pollution and the climate, and help plan responses.
• Online documents and forms reduce the paper that is used.

Each of these still uses devices and electricity, so the overall effect depends on how much they replace.

Ways to reduce the environmental impact of digital technology include:

• designing energy-efficient hardware, and powering data centres with renewable electricity
• keeping devices for longer, and repairing them rather than replacing them
• recycling old devices through take-back schemes, so materials are recovered safely

In the UK, the WEEE Regulations make producers of electrical equipment help to pay for collecting and recycling it.