Every time someone uses a mobile device to chat with a friend, stream videos, or simply browse, signals are sent to servers that process that data. The online world relies on millions of data centers—vast complexes housing rows of computers—that operate around the clock, year after year. Keeping the global network running demands enormous storage and computing power, all fueled by high energy consumption.
Estimates place data centers and transmission networks accounting for more than 3% of total global IT spending on electricity, according to the International Energy Agency. Projections suggest this share could climb to 4% by 2030 due to rising energy demand driven by artificial intelligence, digitization, and cloud computing. A small group of technology giants controls much of the industry, with leaders like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google operating some of the world’s largest facilities. Their energy footprints can be immense; for instance, the largest centers have an absorption capacity approaching 198 megawatts, roughly enough to power about 150,000 homes in the United States.
Experts caution that these corporate giants often generate outsized profits while the energy costs are borne by the broader environment. Ulises Cortés, the scientific coordinator for artificial intelligence at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, notes that the scale of energy usage requires scrutiny and responsibility, especially as AI expands.
more pollution
Intense digital processing contributes to environmental pollution. Digital technology is estimated to account for a range of 1.4% to 5.9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to analyses cited by the World Economic Forum. Despite this, the climate crisis remains heavily linked to the continued burning of fossil fuels, which still supplies a dominant share of energy demand worldwide.
Storing and handling billions of data items to sustain global connectivity is energy-intensive. Approximately 40% of the electricity used by data centers goes toward powering transmission systems and cooling—fans and climate control aimed at keeping temperatures around 20 to 22 degrees Celsius. While cooling prevents overheating and protects hardware, it also contributes to higher CO2 emissions.
More efficiency
The climate impact is alarming, yet the prevailing answer is not to curtail internet access but to pursue cleaner energy for data centers. The major players are increasingly investing in renewable resources such as solar and wind. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are leading the charge toward cleaner power portfolios.
The European Union has embraced this green trajectory, though participation remains voluntary and lacks mandatory requirements for the tech giants. Analysts emphasize the need for regulatory measures that compel more sustainable practices and greater transparency about the environmental footprint of digital services. Ana Valdivia, a researcher and professor at the Oxford Internet Institute, stresses that without regulation there is little incentive for rapid change.
Industry progress toward efficiency is constant. Energy consumption has stayed relatively steady even as data traffic has risen and storage capacity has expanded significantly over the past decade. The concern remains that demand for centers and energy could intensify if growth continues, underscoring the importance of sustainable design and responsible energy planning.