Excess memes and 'reply all' emails are bad for climate, researcher warns

Research indicates that excessive digital data, particularly "dark data" such as unused memes and unnecessary emails, significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Ian Hodgkinson, a professor at Loughborough University, highlights that 68% of data used by companies is never accessed again, leading to energy consumption in data centers that is expected to account for nearly 6% of the UK's electricity by 2030. Each piece of data, whether an image or an email, has a carbon footprint, and the cumulative effect of storing vast amounts of unused data can be substantial. Hodgkinson emphasizes the importance of reducing junk data to mitigate climate impact, noting that cloud storage providers benefit financially from retaining this data. He suggests that individuals can help by minimizing unnecessary emails and being mindful of their digital footprint. For instance, sending a standard email can generate about 4 grams of carbon emissions. The growing demand for data storage poses a challenge, as even the world's renewable energy sources may not suffice to meet future energy needs for data centers. Therefore, raising awareness about the environmental consequences of digital data usage is crucial for fostering behavioral change and achieving climate goals.

- Excessive digital data contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.

- 68% of corporate data is never accessed again, leading to unnecessary energy consumption.

- Data centers are projected to consume nearly 6% of the UK's electricity by 2030.

- Each email sent generates approximately 4 grams of carbon emissions.

- Reducing junk data and unnecessary emails can help mitigate climate impact.