Negative Impacts of Computer Technology on the Environment

Understanding how computing technology contributes to environmental challenges.

1. Growing Energy Consumption

The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector is a significant driver of global power demand. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electricity demand is projected to grow by 3.5% annually through 2030, and data centers and AI are contributing significantly to this increase [1]. The fraction of global energy consumption by data centers doubled between 2011 and 2021, reaching 3% of global electricity use [2]. This trend is substantially driven by AI, and by a dramatic growth in the number of digital devices connected to the internet [2]. Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies are another significant contributor to energy consumption [2].

Projected Growth

By 2030, the overall increase in global power consumption will be equivalent to adding two European Unions to the global grid [1].

Carbon Intensity

Because much of this power is drawn from carbon-emitting fossil fuels, the digital economy directly contributes to the global warming cycle [1].

AI as Energy Driver

Artificial intelligence and data centers are outpacing other industries in energy needs, creating unprecedented demand on power grids worldwide [2].

Global Electricity Demand Growth

It is difficult to determine the exact amount of carbon emissions caused by the ICT sector [3], [4]. However, it is estimated to exceed the emissions of the entire aviation industry [2], as depicted in the chart below.

Percentage of Global Carbon Emissions Caused by Aviation and ICT, with Error Margins

This bar chart depicts the percentage of global emissions caused by the ICT sector, using the median value of 2.85% based on the minimum and maximum estimates of 1.8% and 3.9% respectively [acm]. There is some uncertainty in the value given for the ICT industry, as shown by the error bar, which indicates the ± 1.05% margin of error.

2. The Cost of Data Centers and AI

Data centers are the physical backbone of the digital world, but their environmental footprint is massive [4].

Infrastructure Scale

Global data center energy use is expected to hit 1,050 TWh by 2026, which would make data centers the world's 5th largest energy consumer if they were a country [4].

The AI Tax

A single AI query (like ChatGPT) uses approximately 3 Wh of energy, which is 10 times more than a standard Google search (0.3 Wh) [5], [6].

Training Emissions

Training a large language model like GPT-4 required an estimated 1,750 MWh of energy, highlighting the massive "upfront" carbon cost of AI [6].

AI vs. Search Engine Energy Consumption

While AI might be considered a promising innovation, it is far more energy-intensive than traditional search engines [5], [6].

AI Query Energy Consumption Comparison

Source: Kanoppi [6]. View original source

References

  1. "Global electricity demand is set to grow strongly to 2030, underscoring need for investments in grids and flexibility," International Energy Agency, Feb. 6, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.iea.org/news/global-electricity-demand-is-set-to-grow-strongly-to-2030-underscoring-need-for-investments-in-grids-and-flexibility
  2. B. Knowles, "ACM TechBrief: Computing and Climate Change," Association for Computing Machinery, Nov. 1, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1145/3483410
  3. "Measuring the Emissions & Energy Footprint of the ICT Sector: Implications for Climate Action," International Telecommunication Union and World Bank, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Environment/Documents/Publications/2024/ITU-World%20Bank%20Measuring%20the%20Emissions-Energy%20Footprint%20of%20the%20ICT%20Sector%202024.pdf
  4. B. Tanner, D. Belle, C. F. Kerry, N. Kyosovska, A. Renda, E. Tabassi, et al., "Global energy demands within the AI regulatory landscape," Brookings Institution, Apr. 10, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/global-energy-demands-within-the-ai-regulatory-landscape/
  5. "How much energy does an AI query use?" ReadySetCompute, Dec. 9, 2025 [Online]. Available: https://readysetcompute.com/aienergy/
  6. "Search engines vs AI: energy consumption compared," Kanoppi, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://kanoppi.co/search-engines-vs-ai-energy-consumption-compared/