By Janna Axenbeck, Stefanie Kunkel, Joris Blain und Francis Charpentier
Using input-output analysis of EU FIGARO data (2010-2021), we calculate the embodied –i.e., supply chain-related– greenhouse gas emissions of digital industries (hardware, IT services, and communications). We show that the embodied emissions of demand for digital industries in 2021 are 4.1% of global emissions, with 77-87% occurring upstream (Scope 3). We also show that 42% of direct emissions from digital industries are transferred via supply chains and ultimately “hidden” in the embodied emissions of non-digital industries. Hardware contributes the largest share to global embodied emissions of digital industries, while the increasing demand for IT services drives emissions growth in the past decade. Our findings highlight the need to reduce digital emissions along all industries’ value chains, by considering embedded digital inputs, following circular economy principles for hardware manufacturing, and limiting embodied emissions associated with IT services, such as artificial intelligence services.
Link to publication (in revision at Nature Communications Sustainability): https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6479454/v1