Reducing ‘junk data’ - unused digital content stored on energy-intensive cloud servers - is set to be an emerging strategy for addressing climate change in the coming years.
Experts are warning that the proliferation of memes, emails and other digital detritus doing the rounds is having significant environmental consequences. Much of this ‘dark data’ is accessed only once before being abandoned - yet it continues to consume considerables amounts of energy and resources.
To curb this data juggernaut, individuals can take simple steps like avoiding ‘reply all’ emails unless absolutely necessary, which are estimated to generate about 4g of carbon per message.
Cultivating an awareness of the environmental impact of our digital habits, both at work and at home, can drive meaningful behavioural changes over the longer term.
By prompting ourselves and those around us to consider the carbon footprint of our digital practices, we can do our bit toward making meaningful progress in mitigating the climate emergency.