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1、Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futureDigital economy report2024UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENTShaping anenvironmentally sustainableand inclusive digital futureDigital Digital economyeconomyreportreport2024UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOP

2、MENTGeneva,2024Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futureii 2024,United NationsAll rights reserved worldwideRequests to reproduce excerpts or to photocopy should be addressed to the Copyright Clearance Center at .All other queries on rights and lic

3、ences,including subsidiary rights,should be addressed to:United Nations Publications405 East 42nd StreetNew York,New York 10017United States of AmericaEmail:publicationsun.orgWebsite:https:/shop.un.orgThe designations employed and the presentation of material on any map in this work do not imply the

4、 expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country,territory,city or area or of its authorities,or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.Mention of any firm or licensed process does not imply the endorsement of the

5、United Nations.This publication has been edited externally.United Nations publication issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and DevelopmentUNCTAD/DER/2024ISBN:978-92-1-003136-3eISBN:978-92-1-358977-9ISSN:2664-2255eISSN:2664-2263 Sales No.E.24.II.D.12EPUB ISBN:978-92-1-358978-6Digital Econ

6、omy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futureiiiNoteWithin the UNCTAD Division on Technology and Logistics,the E-commerce and Digital Economy Branch carries out policy-oriented analytical work on the development implications of information and communications tech

7、nologies(ICTs)and electronic commerce(e-commerce).The branch is responsible for the preparation of the Digital Economy Report,previously known as the Information Economy Report.The E-commerce and Digital Economy Branch promotes international dialogue on issues related to ICTs for development and con

8、tributes to building developing countries capacities to measure e-commerce and the digital economy and to design and implement relevant policies and legal frameworks.The branch also manages the eTrade for all initiative.In this report,the terms country/economy refer,as appropriate,to territories or

9、areas.The designations of country groups are intended solely for statistical or analytical convenience,and do not necessarily express a judgement about the stage of development reached by a particular country or area in the development process.Unless otherwise indicated,the major country groupings u

10、sed in this report follow the classification of the United Nations Statistics Division.These are:Developed economies:member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)(excluding Chile,Colombia,Costa Rica,Mexico and Trkiye),European Union member countries that are no

11、t OECD members(Bulgaria,Croatia,Cyprus,Lithuania,Malta and Romania),plus Albania,Andorra,Belarus,Bermuda,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Liechtenstein,Monaco,Montenegro,North Macedonia,the Republic of Moldova,the Russian Federation,San Marino,Serbia and Ukraine,plus the territories of Faroe Islands,Gibraltar

12、,Greenland,Guernsey and Jersey.Developing economies are all countries not specified above.A file with the main country groupings used can be downloaded from UNCTADstat at http:/unctadstat.unctad.org/EN/Classifications.html.References to China do not include data for Hong Kong(China),Macao(China)or T

13、aiwan Province of China.References to Latin America include the Caribbean countries,unless otherwise indicated.References to sub-Saharan Africa include South Africa,unless otherwise indicated.The term“dollars”($)refers to United States dollars,unless otherwise indicated.The term“billion”signifies 1,

14、000 million.The following symbols may have been used in the tables:Two dots(.)indicate that data are not available or are not separately reported.A slash(/)between dates representing years,e.g.1994/95,indicates a financial year.Use of an en dash()between dates representing years,e.g.19941995,signifi

15、es the full period involved,including the beginning and end years.Annual rates of growth or change,unless otherwise stated,refer to annual compound rates.Details and percentages in tables do not necessarily add up to the totals because of rounding.Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentall

16、y sustainable and inclusive digital futureivPrefaceDigitalization continues to move at warp speed,transforming lives and livelihoods.At the same time,unregulated digitalization risks leaving people behind and exacerbating environmental and climate challenges.The Digital Economy Report 2024 highlight

17、s the direct environmental impact of our increased reliance on digital tools from raw material depletion,water and energy use,air quality,pollution,and waste generation.These are accentuated by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of things.A just and sustainable di

18、gital economy requires just and sustainable policies.Yet many developing countries continue to face obstacles in accessing digital technologies for their development needs,while bearing the brunt of environmental depletion,waste and climate change.We cannot address digitalization and environmental s

19、ustainability in silos.This report calls for more comprehensive data on the environmental impact of digitalization,and digital policy frameworks that advance the Sustainable Development Goals and honour climate commitments.As we prepare for the Summit of the Future and the Global Digital Compact,the

20、 United Nations offers a natural platform to bring together stakeholders from the digital and environmental communities.Together,we can harness the benefits of digitalization while closing the digital divide and protecting our planet.This report is an important resource as we strive to build a just

21、and sustainable digital future for all.Antnio Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations UN Photo/Mark Garten2024_UNCTADDigital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurevForewordThe digital economy,often praised for its virtual and intangible nature

22、,has created the illusion of a world unburdened by material waste.However,this Digital Economy Report 2024 starkly reveals the fallacy of this perception.The information and communications technology sectors carbon footprint in 2020,estimated at between 0.69 and 1.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide(CO2)eq

23、uivalent emissions,accounted for 1.5 to 3.2 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions at the upper range,slightly below the entire shipping industrys contribution to CO2 emissions.The production of a single 2kg computer requires the extraction of a staggering 800kg of raw materials.These figures a

24、re only set to rise,with the production of minerals essential for the digital transition,such as graphite,lithium and cobalt,projected to surge by 500 per cent by 2050 to meet the growing demand for digital and low-carbon technologies.Data centres,the backbone of the digital world,consumed an estima

25、ted 460 TWh of electricity in 2022,a figure projected to double by 2026.The number of semiconductor units quadrupled from 2001 to 2022 and continues to grow.Fifth-generation mobile broadband coverage is expected to increase from 25 per cent of the population in 2021 to 85 per cent by 2028,while the

26、number of Internet of things devices is projected to grow from 16 billion in 2023 to 39 billion in 2029.This expansion,coupled with the growing popularity of e-commerce,which saw business sales rise from$17 trillion in 2016 to$27 trillion in 2022 in 43 countries,paints a complex picture of the digit

27、al economys environmental impact.This report serves as a wake-up call,urging us to confront the environmental consequences of our digital lifestyles.The environmental impact of digitalization is a global issue,but its effects are not evenly distributed.Developing countries,often rich in the resource

28、s needed for digital technologies,bear a disproportionate burden of its costs while reaping limited benefits.For example,discarded smartphones,laptops,screens and other electronic devices grew by 30 per cent between 2010 and 2022,reaching 10.5 million tons globally.Developed countries generated an a

29、verage of 3.25 kg of e-waste per person,compared to less than 1 kg in developing countries and 0.21 kg in least developed countries.Shockingly,only 24 per cent of this waste was formally collected globally in 2022,with a mere 7.5 per cent collected in developing countries.Another point to consider i

30、s the impact of the extraction of minerals essential for digital technologies on environmental and social sustainability.Such extraction is often sourced through artisanal and small-scale mining,which is often associated with unsafe working conditions,environmental degradation and exploitation of vu

31、lnerable communities,including children.These UN Photo/Mark Garten2024_UNCTADDigital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurevicircumstances highlight the urgent need for greater transparency and responsible sourcing practices within the digital supply c

32、hain,ensuring that the pursuit of technological progress does not come at the expense of vulnerable communities or the environment.Yet,despite these challenges,digitalization also holds immense potential for environmental good.Digital technologies can drive energy efficiency,optimize resource use an

33、d enable innovative solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation.This report emphasizes the need for a balanced approach.We must harness the power of digitalization to advance inclusive and sustainable development,while mitigating its negative environmental impacts.This requires a shift to

34、wards a circular digital economy,characterized by responsible consumption and production,renewable energy use and comprehensive e-waste management.As we navigate this complex landscape,international cooperation is paramount.We must strive for equitable distribution of the benefits and costs of digit

35、alization,ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age.We must work together to establish comprehensive global governance frameworks that promote sustainable digital practices and empower developing countries to participate fully in the digital economy.The Digital Economy Report 2024 draws

36、 attention to an important area.It underscores the urgent need for action at all levels from Governments and businesses to international organizations and civil society.We must embrace a new mindset that considers sustainability at every stage of the digital life cycle.I am confident that this repor

37、t will provide valuable insights and recommendations for policymakers,industry leaders and all stakeholders committed to building a sustainable digital future.The choices we make today will determine the kind of world we leave for generations to come.Let us seize this opportunity to create a digital

38、 economy that thrives in harmony with our planet.Rebeca GrynspanSecretary-General of UNCTADDigital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futureviiAcknowledgementsThe Digital Economy Report 2024:Shaping an Environmentally Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Fut

39、ure was prepared,under the overall guidance of Shamika N.Sirimanne,Director of the UNCTAD Division on Technology and Logistics,by a team comprising Torbjrn Fredriksson(team leader),Nadira Bayat,Laura Cyron,Daniel Ker,Smita Lakhe,Marcin Skrzypczyk,Thomas van Giffen and Wei Zhang.The report benefited

40、from major substantive inputs provided by Pablo Gmez Cersosimo,George Kamiya,David Souter,Alicia Valero and Kees Bald on behalf of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.Valuable comments were received from experts who attended a brainstorming meeting in October 2022 and a peer revie

41、w meeting in November 2023,both in Geneva.Participating experts included Jerry Ahadjie,Anastasia Akhigbe,Uma Rani Amara,Rachid Amui,Kees Bald,Heleen Buldeo Rai,Helen Burdett,Bruno Casella,Francesca Cenni,Vlad C.Coroam,Hana Daoudi,Papa Daouda Amad Diene,Lorraine de Montenay,Sofia Dominguez,Scarlett F

42、ondeur Gil,Clovis Freire,Viridiana Garcia-Quiles,Pablo Gmez Cersosimo,Ebru Gokce-Dessemond,Carlos A.Hernandez S.,Seok Geun In,Arnau Izaguerri Vila,David Jensen,George Kamiya,Paz Pea,Nicolas Mazzucchi,Gerry McGovern,Steven Gonzalez Monserrate,Graham Mott,Mireia Roura,Arantxa Sanchez,Deepali Sinha Khe

43、triwal,David Souter,Alicia Valero,Zarja Vojta,Andrew Williamson and Anida Yupari Aguado.Written comments were also received from Ying Tung Chan,Honghui He,Guoyong Liang and Zongguo Wen.UNCTAD greatly appreciates additional inputs from the Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption,the Econ

44、omic Commission for Europe,the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.The cover,graphics and layout were undertaken by Nadge Hadjmian and Gilles Maury.The 2024 report was edited by Romilly Golding.Diana Quiros provided admin

45、istrative support.Financial support from the core donors of the E-commerce and Digital Economy programme,namely Australia,Germany,the Kingdom of the Netherlands,Sweden and Switzerland,is gratefully acknowledged.Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital f

46、utureviiiTable of contentsNote.iiiPreface.ivForeword.vAcknowledgements.viiAbbreviations.xviOverview.xviiiChapter IDigitalization and environmental sustainability.1A.The digitalization and environmental sustainability nexus.31.An area in need of more attention.32.Comprehensive life cycle assessments.

47、73.Direct and indirect effects .9a.Direct effects.9b.Indirect and rebound effects.10c.Combined effects of digitalization are uncertain.12B.Assessing the overall direct environmental footprint of digitalization.151.Measurement challenges.152.Estimates of the carbon footprint of the ICT sector .163.En

48、vironmental footprint beyond emissions and energy.174.Environmental sustainability in the context of digital and development divides.21C.Conclusions and roadmap for the rest of the report.22Chapter IIDigitalization trends and the material footprint.25A.Introduction.27B.The expanding material footpri

49、nt of digitalization.281.The material composition of digital hardware and ICT infrastructure.28Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futureix2.Digitalization trends contributing to increased demand for minerals and metals.32a.Internet and data traffi

50、c.32b.Devices and hardware for digital connections.35c.Data transmission infrastructure.38d.Infrastructure for data storage,processing and use .40C.Demand projections and supply responses for transition minerals.411.Demand projections.412.Supply response in view of the limitations of a finite planet

51、.42D.Geopolitics and the dynamics of transition mineral markets.451.Geographical concentration of reserves,extraction and processing.452.Evolution of prices.463.International trade of transition minerals along the global electronics value chain.48a.International trade.48b.Mining in the global electr

52、onics value and production chain.504.Trade dependence and diversification:The two sides of transition minerals .53a.Countries exporting transition minerals.53b.Countries importing transition minerals.54E.Opportunities for developing countries.57F.Impacts of the production phase on the planet and peo

53、ple.59G.Conclusions.64Annex to chapter II:Using thermoeconomics analysis to explain mineral depletion.66Chapter IIIEnvironmental impacts in the use phase of digitalization.69A.Introduction .71B.Main environmental impacts.711.End-user devices.732.Data transmission networks.743.Data centres.75C.Deep d

54、ive into data centres.751.Energy consumption .762.Energy efficiency and cooling trends .76Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurex3.Greenhouse gas emissions and sources of energy.824.Water consumption.835.Local impacts of data centres.84a.Impact

55、s on electricity grids.84b.Impacts on water supply.85c.Impact on noise levels.86d.Mitigating local impacts.87D.Data centres in developing countries.881.Africa.882.Asia.893.Latin America and the Caribbean.89E.Implications of different digital services and technologies .911.Video streaming.912.Email,w

56、eb searches and online advertising.923.Blockchain.924.Artificial intelligence.945.Virtual reality in the metaverse.966.5G and the Internet of things.96F.Concluding observations and recommendations.97Chapter IVEnd of the cycle?Digitalization-related waste and the circular economy.101A.Introduction.10

57、3B.What is digitalization-related waste?.104C.Trends in digitalization-related waste .108D.Factors driving the growth of digitalization-related waste .114E.Environmental,health and other social impacts.118F.Circular digital economy:Turning waste into resources .1201.Management of digitalization-rela

58、ted waste:Is focussing on recycling and resource recovery enough?.1202.Reducing digitalization-related waste:Prevention as the priority.124G.International trade in digitalization-related waste .131H.Circular digital economy opportunities for developing countries.136I.Conclusions .139Digital Economy

59、Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexiChapter VE-commerce and environmental sustainability.141A.Introduction .143B.E-commerce trends,opportunities and risks.144C.Environmental effects of online and offline retail:A comparative analysis .1501.Factors impactin

60、g the environmental sustainability.150a.Warehousing and distribution centres.151b.Product packaging and waste generation.153c.Transportation and delivery.154d.Returns.156e.Consumer behaviour.1572.Conclusions from the comparison.158D.Making e-commerce more environmentally sustainable.1591.Reducing th

61、e impact of warehouses and distribution centres.1592.Minimizing the impact of product packaging and waste .1603.Towards more sustainable transportation and delivery.1634.Reducing return rates.1645.Influencing consumer behaviour.1686.Legal and regulatory measures.170E.Opportunities for contributing t

62、o the circular economy and fostering a sharing economy.172F.An agenda for action.1731.Promoting better e-commerce practices .1732.Encouraging more environmentally conscious consumer behaviour.1753.Improving the evidence base for informed policymaking.175Chapter VITowards environmentally sustainable

63、digitalization that works for inclusive development.177A.The need for a new policy mindset.179B.Aligning digitalization,environmental sustainability and inclusive development.1801.Complex and interconnected global challenges.1802.Towards a holistic,whole of life cycle and multi-stakeholder approach

64、.180Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexii3.Harnessing the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in the digital economy.181C.Fostering sustainable consumption and production in the digital economy.1831.Applying the concept

65、of sustainable consumption and production.1832.Fostering more sustainable consumption of digital products.1843.Fostering sustainable production in the digital economy.1874.Moving towards circularity.1895.The growing need for integrated policymaking.190D.Preconditions for policymaking.1931.Improving

66、the understanding of how digitalization impacts the environment.1932.Raising awareness of the environmental footprint of digitalization.197E.Policy options.2001.Overview of policy options.2002.Managing growing demand for transition minerals sustainably and inclusively.2013.Minimizing the environment

67、al footprint in the use phase.2054.Promoting a circular digital economy .2075.Enabling international trade in a circular digital economy.2086.Securing international support for capacity development.211F.Strengthening international cooperation and solidarity for collective action.212References.217Dig

68、ital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexiiiBoxesBox I.1 The rapidly evolving nature of digitalization.5Box I.2 Opportunities for digital technologies to mitigate carbon emissions.11Box II.1 Is the expansion of the mining frontier sustainable?.44Box

69、 II.2 Women and mining.62Box II.3 Environmental and social impacts of electronics manufacturing.63Box III.1 Approaches to estimating data centre energy use .77Box III.2 Data centre sustainability policies:Singapore and China.90Box IV.1Amendments to annexes of the Basel Convention.105Box IV.2Digitali

70、zation-related waste in outer space.113Box IV.3The reality of programmed obsolescence .116Box V.1Progress in e-commerce in least developed countries and possible policy actions.149Box V.2Plastic pollution impacts on human rights and development.154Box V.3Government measures to minimize the environme

71、ntal impact of plastic and packaging waste.162Box V.4Sustainable e-commerce transport and logistics innovation:The case of TruQ in Lagos,Nigeria.165Box V.5Use of augmented reality applications to reduce product returns.167Box V.6Digital nudges and human rights.169Box V.7Guidelines for product sustai

72、nability information in e-commerce.171Box VI.1 Relevant targets of Sustainable Development Goal 12 on sustainable consumption and production for digitalization.185Box VI.2 Towards environmentally sustainable procurement of digital products .192Box VI.3 Fundamentals for informed policymaking.194Box V

73、I.4 Protecting consumers against greenwashing.198Box VI.5 Towards better tracing of the circularity of digital products.199Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexivFiguresFigure I.1 The ICT sector is made up of three parts:Networks,data centres

74、 and end-user devices.8Figure I.2 Digitalization as a problem or a solution for promoting environmental sustainability.14Figure II.1 Number of lists compiled by countries of critical minerals/raw materials which include a certain critical mineral/raw material,by technology.30Figure II.2 Evolution of

75、 elements of the periodic table contained in a phone.31Figure II.3 Dynamics of increased material consumption and digitalization trends.33Figure II.4 Mobile data traffic by country grouping,20152029.34Figure II.5.a Global mobile subscriptions,by technology,20182029 .35Figure II.5.bMobile 5G subscrip

76、tions,by country groupings,20182029.35Figure II.6 Global shipments of selected digital devices,20132027.35Figure II.7 IoT devices with cellular connections,by country grouping,20162029.37Figure II.8 Average number of devices and connections per capita,by region,2018 and 2023.39Figure II.9 Projected

77、increase in mineral demand by 2050.43Figure II.10 Extraction of selected transition minerals by volume,selected economies and years.47Figure II.11 Share of top mineral processing countries in world total for selected minerals.48Figure II.12 Evolution of prices of selected transition minerals,2013202

78、3.49Figure II.13 Share of minerals,ores and metals in total merchandise exports,20192021.51Figure II.14 Classification of economies as exporters or importers of transition minerals,by level of development.51Figure II.15 The smile curve of global value distribution in ICT goods production.52Figure II

79、.16 The global electronics production chain.53Figure III.1 Greenhouse gas emissionsa.by the three parts of the ICT sector,2020 .72b.by end-user device type,global averages.72Figure III.2 Typical daily power consumption of computing devices and monitors a.by device.73b.by monitor type and size.73Figu

80、re III.3 Global data centre energy use,selected estimates and estimation methodologies,2020.78Figure III.4 Company-wide electricity consumption by data centres,selected companies,20182022.80Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexvFigure III.5 R

81、enewable energy share and scope 2 emissions,selected data centre operators,2022.82Figure III.6 Annual bitcoin energy consumption,20102023.93Figure IV.1From electrical and electronic equipment to e-waste.107Figure IV.2Conceptual illustration of sustainable digitalization.111Figure IV.3The digitalizat

82、ion-related waste hierarchy of options for reducing environmental impact.125Figure IV.4Circular economy for ICT goods.129Figure IV.5International trade in controlled e-waste and uncontrolled used equipment and e-waste.133Figure V.1Share of Internet users making online purchases,selected economies an

83、d years .145Figure V.2E-commerce sales by businesses,selected economies and country groupings,20162022.146Figure V.3E-commerce sales,exports and cross-border e-commerce sales,selected economies,20162022.146Figure V.4Gross merchandise value reported by selected companies operating online platforms,20

84、192022.148Figure V.5Offline and online retail:An illustrative journey.152Figure VI.1 Domestic linear and circular activities and international circular trade flows.209TablesTable I.1 Direct environmental effects of digital devices and infrastructure.10Table I.2Indirect environmental effects from the

85、 use of digital devices and infrastructure .13Table I.3Overview of selected recent assessments of global greenhouse gas emissions.18Table III.1Global energy use of data centres:Overview of studies,20152024.79Table IV.1Digitalization-related waste,by volume and per capita,selected country groupings,c

86、ountries and years.110Table IV.2Collection of digitalization-related waste:Volume and collection rate,selected country groupings,countries and years.122Table VI.1Summary of policy objectives and options at national,regional and international levels,by stage of the digitalization life cycle.202Table

87、VI.2Policy instruments for environmentally sustainable digitalization that works for inclusive development.204Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexviAbbreviationsAdemeAgence de la transition cologiqueAfDBAfrican Development BankAIartificial i

88、ntelligenceANRCAfrica Natural Resources Management and Investment Centre ArcepAutorit de rgulation des communications lectroniques,des postes et de la distribution de la presseASEANAssociation of Southeast Asian NationsASICapplication-specific integrated circuitASMartisanal and small-scale miningASY

89、CUDAAutomated System for Customs Data(UNCTAD)ATMautomated teller machineB2Bbusiness-to-businessB2Cbusiness-to-consumerC2Cconsumer-to-consumerCAGRcompound annual growth rateCO2ecarbon dioxide equivalentCODESCoalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability CRTcathode ray tubeEACOEast Africa Communic

90、ations OrganizationEBexabyteECEEconomic Commission for EuropeECLACEconomic Commission for Latin America and the CaribbeanEEEelectrical and electronic equipmentEPRextended producer responsibilityFTAfree trade agreementGBgigabyteGDPgross domestic productGHGgreenhouse gasGNIgross national incomeGPSGlob

91、al Positioning SystemGPTgenerative pre-trained transformerGSMAGlobal System for Mobile Communications AssociationGTINglobal trade item numberGWgigawattGWhgigawatt hourICCInternational Chamber of CommerceICTinformation and communications technologyIDCInternational Data CorporationIEAInternational Ene

92、rgy AgencyIEEEInstitute of Electrical and Electronics EngineersIGFIntergovernmental Forum on Mining,Minerals,Metals and Sustainable DevelopmentIISDInternational Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentILOInternational Labour OrganizationDigital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable

93、and inclusive digital futurexviiIMFInternational Monetary FundIoTInternet of thingsIP Internet protocolIPCCInternational Panel on Climate ChangeIRENAInternational Renewable Energy AgencyIRPInternational Resources PanelISAInternational Seabed AuthorityISLPInternational Senior Lawyers ProjectISOIntern

94、ational Organization for StandardizationITinformation technologyITCInternational Trade CentreITUInternational Telecommunication UnionkWkilowattLCAlife cycle assessmentLCDliquid crystal displayLDCleast developed countryLEDlight-emitting diodeLEOlow Earth orbitLi-ionlithium-ionMSMEsmicro-,small and me

95、dium-sized enterprisesMSPMineral Security PartnershipMtmegatonsMWmegawattNGOnon-governmental organizationOECDOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentOHCHROffice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsOPECOrganization of the Petroleum Exporting CountriesPACEPlatform for

96、 Accelerating the Circular EconomyPCpersonal computerPCBprinted circuit boardPPApower purchase agreementPUEpower usage effectiveness RFIDradio frequency identificationSCSITscreens,computers,small IT and telecommunications equipmentSTEPSstated policies scenario TWhterawatt hourUNCTADUnited Nations Co

97、nference on Trade and DevelopmentUNDPUnited Nations Development ProgrammeUNEPUnited Nations Environment ProgrammeUNFCCCUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeUNIDOUnited Nations Industrial Development OrganizationUNITARUnited Nations Institute for Training and ResearchVATvalue added ta

98、xWCOWorld Customs OrganizationWEEEwaste electrical and electronic equipmentWEFWorld Economic ForumWHOWorld Health OrganizationWSISWorld Summit on the Information SocietyWTOWorld Trade OrganizationDigital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexviiiOverv

99、iewThe Digital Economy Report 2024:Shaping an Environmentally Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Future highlights the urgent need for sustainable strategies throughout the life cycle of digitalization.From raw material extraction and usage of digital technologies to waste generation,the report explo

100、res the nature and scale of the sectors environmental footprint,which remains largely unassessed.What is apparent is that developing countries are suffering disproportionately from digitalizations negative environmental effects,as well as missing out on economic developmental opportunities due to di

101、gital divides.UNCTAD calls for global policies involving all stakeholders to enable a more circular digital economy and reduced environmental footprints from digitalization,while ensuring inclusive development outcomes.Understanding the nexus of digitalization and environmental sustainability is inc

102、reasingly importantDigitalization continues to transform the world economy and society,creating both opportunities and challenges for sustainable development.Previous editions of the Digital Economy Report have largely focused on the implications of digitalization for inclusive development,the impor

103、tance of bridging digital and data-related divides,enabling value creation and capture in developing countries and fostering better governance of data and digital platforms.The Digital Economy Report 2024 turns attention to the environmental footprint of digitalization.The topic is timely,not to say

104、 overdue.Digital transformation is taking place in parallel with growing concerns related to the depletion of raw materials,water stress,climate change,pollution and waste generation,which are all linked to planetary boundaries.The rapid pace and expanding scope of digitalization make it increasingl

105、y important to understand the relationship between digitalization and environmental sustainability.How the worlds ongoing digital transformation is managed will greatly influence the future of humanity and the health of the planet.Environmental impacts are generated along the whole digitalization li

106、fe cycleDirect environmental impacts from digital devices and from information and communications technology(ICT)infrastructure occur along the life cycle,taking place during the production phase(raw material extraction and processing,manufacturing,distribution),the use phase and the end-of-life pha

107、se.The direct effects on natural resources,including on transition minerals,energy and water,as well as greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions and waste-related pollution,constitute the“environmental footprint”of the ICT sector.There are also indirect environmental effects from the use of digital technologies

108、 and services in different sectors of the economy.These extend beyond digitalizations direct footprint and can be both positive and negative.For example,digital technologies can help to improve energy efficiency,reducing demand across all sectors.Digital technologies can be used to cut GHG emissions

109、 in the transportation,construction,agriculture and energy sectors.However,the Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexixpotential gains may be reduced or counterbalanced by“rebound effects”,in that digitalization may increase the consumption of

110、 goods and services,with negative effects on the environment as a result.Policies can greatly influence the net impact.Digitalization is evolving rapidly,leaving a growing environmental footprint In the past two decades,the world has experienced a digital shift few would have anticipated at the time

111、 of the World Summit on the Information Society in 2005,creating new opportunities for economic and social development,as well as new challenges.According to the International Telecommunication Union,the number of Internet users surged from 1 billion in 2005 to 5.4 billion in 2023.Between 2010 and 2

112、023,estimates of annual shipments of smartphones more than doubled,from 500 million to about 1.2 billion.From 2001 to 2022,the number of semiconductor units sold quadrupled,and these numbers keep expanding.Network infrastructure,including submarine cables and communications satellites,offers ever fa

113、ster ways of connecting more people and machines.Fifth generation(5G)mobile broadband population coverage is expected by some market estimates to rise from 25 per cent in 2021 to 85 per cent in 2028.Higher connection speeds enable more data to be generated,collected,stored and analysed,and this is c

114、entral to emerging technologies such as big data analytics,artificial intelligence(AI)and the Internet of things(IoT).The number of Internet-connected objects is expected to rise from 13 billion in 2022 to 35 billion in 2028.While digital technologies can be used to mitigate various environmental co

115、ncerns,the growing numbers of end-user devices,investments in data transmission networks and data centres and more computationally intensive digital applications,such as AI and blockchain technology,are also translating into a growing environmental footprint.In the current highly linear digital econ

116、omy production model based on take/extractmakeusewaste this leads to more demand for raw materials,water and energy,greater emissions of GHGs and more waste at the end-of-life phase.It is difficult to assess the impact of digitalization on the environmentThis report points to the need for building a

117、 stronger evidence base to allow for comprehensive assessments of the environmental effects of digitalization.There is a lack of timely,comparable and accessible data and there are few harmonized reporting standards.Analytical studies rely on a variety of sources that are quickly becoming outdated d

118、ue to the speed of digital developments;for example,existing studies do not adequately capture the environmental impact of recent developments in AI or the shift to 5G mobile networks.In some sectors,there is also limited disclosure of impacts.Results diverge considerably due to variations in method

119、ologies,assumptions or the models used to estimate environmental impacts.For example,estimates of the ICT sectors life cycle GHG emissions for 2020 vary widely,from 0.69 gigatons to 1.6gigatons of CO2 equivalent(CO2e)emissions,corresponding to 1.53.2 per cent of global GHG emissions in that year.The

120、 impact of the ICT sector on water use is often overlooked,and there is a need for more transparent and reliable information on this.Water use at all stages of the digitalization life cycle can severely impact local biodiversity and livelihoods.Similarly,mining,an integral component Digital Economy

121、Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexxof the production phase of digitalization,is highly water intensive.This can lead to competition for water resources between mining operations,agriculture and local households.Likewise,semiconductor production requires l

122、arge amounts of extremely pure water,and data centres consume a lot of water both indirectly,to generate electricity,and directly,to cool servers.Water pollution can result from the final phases of the digitalization life cycle when contaminants from electronic components leach into groundwater due

123、to improper e-waste disposal and dumping.This type of pollution can adversely affect biodiversity and human health.Digitalizations promise of dematerialization has not yet materializedAvailable research suggests that the production phase of digitalization has the greatest combined negative impact on

124、 the environment.This is due to mineral and metal production,the volume of GHG emissions generated and water-related impacts.For example,in the case of smartphones,around 80 per cent of GHG emissions are attributed to the production phase.Many consider the digital economy to be virtual,intangible or

125、 in the“cloud”,but digitalization heavily relies on the physical world and raw materials.Digital devices,hardware and infrastructure are composed of plastics,glass and ceramics,as well as dozens of minerals and metals.It has been estimated that making a 2 kg computer involves extracting 800kg of raw

126、 materials.The key minerals and metals used for digitalization include aluminium,cobalt,copper,gold,lithium,manganese,natural graphite,nickel,rare earth elements and silicon metal,and these are almost identical to those required for the shift towards a low-carbon economy.Thegrowing demand for these

127、materials is greatly driven by the shift to low-carbon and digital technologies.According to an assessment by the World Bank,production of minerals such as graphite,lithium and cobalt could see an increase of 500 per cent by 2050 to meet growing demand.The global energy and climate model of the Inte

128、rnational Energy Agency(IEA)revealed that consumption of platinum group minerals could be 120 times higher in 2050 than in 2022.Such trends risk meeting the limits of the availability of minerals on a planet with finite resources.Geopolitical concerns could exacerbate digitalizations environmental f

129、ootprintThe global minerals and metals market is highly concentrated geographically in terms of reserves,extraction and processing activities.For example,concerning extraction,in 2022,the Democratic Republic of the Congo produced 68 per cent of the worlds cobalt.Australia and Chile produced 77 per c

130、ent of the worlds lithium,and Gabon and South Africa produced 59 per cent of the worlds manganese.For China,shares of world production stood at 65 per cent for natural graphite,78 per cent for silicon metal and 70 per cent for rare earth elements.China also plays a major role in terms of mineral pro

131、cessing,accounting for more than half of global mineral processing for aluminium,cobalt and lithium,about 90 per cent for manganese and rare earth elements,and close to 100per cent for natural graphite.Securing access to the supply of critical minerals has become a strategic priority,particularly fo

132、r developed and developing countries that are important producers of goods needed for the transition towards a low-carbon and digital world.In some countries,efforts to secure mineral and metal supplies may inadvertently encourage hoarding and lead to overcapacity in production Digital Economy Repor

133、t 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexxifacilities.This may result in less efficient processes and an unnecessarily large environmental footprint for the digital economy.Changing industrial policies reflect the strategic importance of critical mineralsThe strategi

134、c importance of certain raw materials has triggered new policymaking.As Asia,particularly China,emerged as the global electronics manufacturing hub,proximity to markets of intermediary products and components has bolstered burgeoning mineral processing activities.As China strives to improve its perf

135、ormance in strategic technology sectors,such as AI and low-carbon technology,there is an increased demand for minerals that are essential to these industries.Recent years have also seen a revival of industrial policies in some developed countries related to transition minerals and associated industr

136、ies(including electronics).The focus in some global supply chains has shifted from“just in time”to“just in case”approaches.In the United States of America,for example,the President has called for securing a made in America supply chain for critical minerals,and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act in th

137、e country establishes percentages of critical minerals that must be mined,processed or recycled domestically.The European Union,in its Critical Raw Materials Act of 2023,sets 2030 benchmarks for the strategic raw materials value chain and for diversifying its supplies.Both the United States and the

138、European Union have also taken measures to support domestic production of semiconductors.Resource-rich developing countries should benefit If resource-rich developing countries can add more value to the minerals extracted,make effective use of proceeds from the raw materials and diversify into other

139、 parts of the value chain and other sectors,the increased demand for minerals and metals required for digitalization can be leveraged as an opportunity for development.In this context,there is a fundamental need to reverse trade imbalances,wherein developing countries export raw minerals and import

140、higher value added manufactures,which contributes to an ecologically unequal exchange.It is also imperative to minimize negative environmental and social impacts,including human rights concerns.To achieve a more inclusive and environmentally sustainable digital economy,a balanced global policy respo

141、nse is needed that seeks to achieve responsible and sustainable consumption and production,and reflects the interests of both exporters and importers of raw materials.Digital use is boosting energy and water consumptionAs more people,businesses,Governments and organizations around the world make use

142、 of digital services,consumption of energy and water related to devices and ICT infrastructure has increased significantly.When considering the life cycle of data transmission networks and data centres,the bulk of energy and GHG emissions stem from the use phase.For devices,on the other hand,the pro

143、portion of such emissions generated during the use phase is smaller,although this can vary depending on the device and the energy mix used.Emissions related to desktop computers Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexxiiand televisions occur la

144、rgely during the use phase,while for smartphones,tablets and laptops,the production phase generates most of the emissions.Data centres exert a significant environmental impact during the use phase.The expanding data-driven digital economy increasingly relies on data centres with huge storage and com

145、puting capacity,and these consume large amounts of both energy and water.The estimated electricity consumption by 13 of the largest data centre operators more than doubled between 2018 and 2022;consumption was led by Amazon,Alphabet,Microsoft and Meta.And there is more to come.According to IEA,world

146、wide,electricity for data centres amounted to about 460 TWh in 2022,a figure that could more than double to 1,000 TWh by 2026.By way of comparison,total electricity consumption in France was about 459 TWh in 2022.In some countries,growing data centre activity has put a strain on the local electricit

147、y grid.In Ireland,electricity use by data centres more than quadrupled between 2015 and 2022,representing 18 per cent of total electricity consumption in 2022.Projections indicate that this could reach 28 per cent by 2031.In Singapore,where data centres were responsible for around 7 per cent of all

148、electricity demand in 2020,the Government imposed a moratorium on new data centres and later replaced it with stricter conditions on the use by data centres of electricity,water and land.Digital technologies have a significant water footprint which comprises a substantial part of their overall envir

149、onmental impact.However,information on the impacts on water consumption is limited.Data centres not only have considerable electricity needs but also require water for cooling.Water usage and the impact of data centres on local water resources needs to be assessed in a location-specific context,as t

150、he choice of cooling technology is influenced by the local climate and resource availability;comparisons between regions with plentiful water supplies and those facing severe water shortages require vastly different considerations.While some cooling technologies can operate with less water,these tec

151、hnologies may consume more electricity instead.Therefore,water and electricity use by data centres should be considered holistically.Energy consumption is accentuated by compute-intensive technologiesThe environmental impacts of digitalization also vary depending on the activities and technologies i

152、nvolved.New digital services and their increasingly sophisticated technologies,such as blockchain,AI,5G mobile networks and IoT,are poised to greatly increase the demand for data processing and storage and significantly affect the environmental footprint of the ICT sector.Some technologies,such as A

153、I and blockchain,will primarily impact data centres.Others,such as 5G networks and IoT,will largely affect networks and devices.Managing and reducing the related environmental impacts will require concerted efforts from technology companies and policymakers.Artificial intelligence and machine learni

154、ng in particular require extensive computing resources and dedicated hardware.Understanding their energy and water use will become critical as mainstream applications,such as Gemini(formerly Bard),ChatGPT and Ernie,become more widely adopted.For example,Metas computing demand for machine-learning tr

155、aining and application has increased annually by more than 100 per cent in recent years.In the case of Microsoft,training of GPT-3(a large language model on which ChatGPT is based)in its data centres in the United States has been estimated to have directly consumed 700,000litres of potable water for

156、 cooling.Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexxiiiCryptocurrency mining is another energy-intensive activity,especially when relying on a“proof-of-work”blockchain consensus mechanism,a process that requires significant computational power.Acc

157、ording to the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance,the global energy consumption of bitcoin mining,the most prominent cryptocurrency,rose about 34 times between 2015 and 2023 to reach an estimated 121 TWh.Understanding the energy and water footprints of AI and cryptocurrencies is crucial when as

158、sessing the environmental impacts of such technologies.Such operations should,to the greatest extent possible,be powered by low-carbon electricity.Operators also need to continue to improve the energy and water efficiency of data centres,while limiting the waste generated from frequent equipment rep

159、lacements.At the same time,the scope for further efficiency improvements in these areas remains uncertain,partly due to the physical limits of transistors,which are fundamental building blocks of electronic devices.Waste related to digitalization is expanding,with uneven regional implicationsWaste f

160、rom digitalization is a growing environmental concern.Between 2010 and 2022,the volume of waste from screens and monitors as well as small IT and telecommunications equipment expanded by 30 per cent globally,from 8.1 million to 10.5 million tons(notincluding waste from various IoT devices,batteries

161、and communications satellites).In 2022,the largest contributors of such waste were China,the United States and the European Union.In per capita terms,developed countries generated on average 3.25 kg of waste compared with less than 1 kg in developing countries and 0.21 kg in the least developed coun

162、tries(LDCs).In the United States,an average citizen generated 25 times more waste than an average citizen in LDCs.These significant disparities reflect the digital divide between countries in terms of access,affordability and use of digital devices and equipment.While it is important to address the

163、considerable overconsumption in high-income countries and be mindful of the waste generated,it is also important to recognize that many developing countries still need to digitalize further in order to participate effectively in the global economy and society.This digitalization process will inevita

164、bly involve consumption,highlighting the complex balance between sustainability and economic development.The growth in digitalization-related waste is due to several factors that include increased consumption of electronic devices and ICT equipment with shorter life spans;insufficient awareness amon

165、g consumers about the waste implications of their devices;a linear model of production;and limited options for repairing or upgrading existing devices.New models with higher performance quickly replace existing models or make them redundant.Planned obsolescence by producers,for example by making sma

166、rtphones work more slowly over time or phasing out support for older versions of software,adds to the growing waste problem.Encouragingly,concerns about planned obsolescence and limits to the right to repair have led to strong reactions from civil society.This is helping to raise awareness and spark

167、 calls for appropriate policy responses.Digitalization-related waste collection needs to expandCurrent rates of formal collection of digitalization-related waste remain low,especially in developing countries.While the global average for formal collection of digitalization-related waste amounted to 2

168、4 per cent of all waste in 2022,this figure dropped to just 7.5 per cent in Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexxivdeveloping countries.Even in developed countries,despite generally better formal collection systems,an average collection rate

169、 of 47 per cent is not high enough.Waste management brings significant challenges.In developing countries,formal collection systems to manage digitalization-related waste in an environmentally sound manner are often lacking,and much of the waste is handled by the informal sector.Moreover,only one in

170、 four developing countries has adopted relevant legislation for managing waste from digitalization.Available data and research indicate a pattern of unequal ecological exchange in the international trade of waste related to digitalization.This is due to the largely uncontrolled trade in used digital

171、 equipment,which typically moves from developed to developing economies.In contrast,the higher-value parts of this waste for processing or treatment(such as printed circuit boards)are mostly exported from developing to developed countries.As a result,developing countries remain locked in the low val

172、ue part of the waste value chain(e.g.uncontrolled trade in used electronic equipment),yet bear the burden of various related environmental and social costs.E-commerce should become more environmentally sustainablePeople and businesses are increasingly going online to buy goods and services.E-commerc

173、e represents an important application of digital technologies,with implications for both domestic and international trade.Since the beginning of this century,the number of people shopping online has surged from less than 100 million to some 2.3 billion in 2021.The value of sales across the worlds to

174、p 35 e-commerce platforms has boomed in recent years,from$2.6 trillion in 2019 to more than$4 trillion in 2021,led by Alibaba,Amazon,JD.com and Pinduoduo.UNCTAD estimates that the total value of e-commerce sales by businesses,in the 43developed and developing countries for which data are available,r

175、ose from$17 trillion in 2016 to$27 trillion in 2022.Most of these sales are domestic,but the share of international e-commerce is growing.At the same time,the shift to e-commerce has only just started in most developing countries,particularly in LDCs.E-commerce is disrupting economic processes and c

176、onsumption patterns,with positive and negative implications for environmental sustainability.While precise impact assessments of the environmental impact of e-commerce are hindered by limited data,the net effect depends on how businesses handle warehousing,storage,transportation,logistics,packaging

177、and returns.Consumer behaviour plays a role,too.E-commerce has boosted consumption due to enhanced accessibility and convenience,lower prices,greater product variety and wider reach of online marketing.More frequent purchases across different platforms and retailers including more impulse buying lea

178、ds to overconsumption,causing increased transportation emissions and waste.Making e-commerce more environmentally sustainable requires a greater emphasis on circular business models,ethical sourcing and production,energy-efficient logistics and adopting renewable energy and eco-friendly delivery sol

179、utions,as well as sustainable packaging and finding ways to promote sustainable consumption.Policymakers can facilitate these changes through an appropriate mix of legislative,regulatory instruments and tax mechanisms to reduce CO2 emissions in transportation and minimize waste from e-commerce.This

180、will require a collaborative effort between Governments,businesses,platforms,logistics providers and consumers.Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexxvA new policy mindset is requiredThere is a need for new business models,policies and strateg

181、ies that maximize the positive impact of digitalization on sustainability while minimizing the negative impacts.Digital development should be assessed in light of several critical challenges:the need to reduce overall consumption and optimize the use of scarce resources without jeopardizing the pros

182、pects of future generations;the need to curtail carbon emissions and prevent catastrophic climate change;and the need to turn the accumulation of digitalization-related waste into an opportunity for recovery,recycling and reuse in a circular economy.Achieving an inclusive and environmentally sustain

183、able digital economy requires a shift towards circularityAccording to the Circle Economy Foundation,the global economy is still only 7.2 per cent circular,showing a declining trend driven by rising material extraction and use.A shift towards a more circular digital economy would optimize the economi

184、c and environmental impacts of digitalization,including supporting business opportunities and job creation.This means using renewable energy and adaptive and resilient infrastructure;reducing wasteful use of digital networks,products and services;increasing repair,reuse,refurbishment and recycling o

185、f devices;and significantly improving the recovery of material resources from digitalization-related waste.Achieving greater circularity requires change at all stages of the digital life cycle:designing platforms,products and services in ways that foster sustainable consumption by default;encouragin

186、g sufficiency and frugality in the use of resources where overconsumption is currently prevalent;and facilitating the recovery and reuse of resources to maximize their value.Many developing countries are in a double bind,experiencing limited benefits of digitalization and suffering high exposure to

187、its negative environmental impactsCurrently,the distribution of benefits and costs from digitalization is skewed.Most of the value added in the digital economy is captured by developed and some digitally-advanced developing countries.Countries at different levels of development are unevenly affected

188、 by environmental impacts related to the various stages of the digitalization life cycle.Many developing countries are providers of key raw materials,and some are the destination for significant digitalization-related waste.At the same time,developing regions are often at the tail end of global trad

189、e,where opportunities for value addition and economic growth are limited.Moreover,developing countries tend to be more affected by climate change,which can limit their options for socioeconomic development.Finally,developing countries often lack the resources and capacity to use digital technologies

190、 for mitigating negative environmental impacts(box).There are risks that LDCs in particular will fall further behind in terms of both digital development and environmental sustainability.Achieving environmentally sustainable digitalization that fosters inclusive development will require a reversal o

191、f the unequal ecological exchange and vulnerabilities faced by developing countries.Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexxviAgainst this backdrop,and in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities,the extent and natu

192、re of responsibility for environmental protection varies according to each countrys capabilities,historical responsibilities and level of development.Economies that are more digitally developed have a particular responsibility to ensure a global transition towards an inclusive and sustainable digita

193、l future by devising and implementing policies to reduce digitalizations environmental footprint and to enhance the capacity of developing countries to benefit from digitalization.Balancing climate needswith digital transformation in developing countriesDigital divides remain a significant barrier t

194、o socioeconomic development.While there is great potential for most developing countries to benefit from digital transformation,many countries have seen relatively limited benefits to date.Alack of financial and human resources often hampers the ability to harness digital infrastructure for sustaina

195、ble development.At the same time,many countries struggle to use digital solutions for dealing with climate change and other environmental risks.As historic responsibilities for environmental challenges lie predominantly with todays developed countries,which have also reaped the greatest gains from d

196、igitalization,tailored and nuanced solutions are needed to advance digital transformation in developing regions and balance environmental impacts.Policy responses should reflect the disproportionate role that developed countries have played in both technological progress and environmental degradatio

197、n.Integrating policies on digitalization and environmental stewardship is essential.More international cooperation will be vital for low-income countries to participate in a global and environmentally sustainable digital transformation.Developed and digitally advanced countries can do more to suppor

198、t capacity-building for strengthening the digital readiness of countries trailing behind,as well as deploying digital solutions to mitigate climate change.Source:UNCTAD.Bold and resolute action at national and international levels is imperativePolicy efforts at the national level are more likely to

199、prove successful if implemented as part of digital strategies developed with economic inclusion and environmental sustainability in mind.Similarly,government strategies to mitigate GHG emissions,conserve water resources and reduce waste generation should pay adequate attention to the environmental f

200、ootprint of digitalization and to how digital technologies can offer solutions to environmental concerns.Policies and strategies at the international level should acknowledge the needs and priorities of all countries and highlight opportunities for developing countries to benefit from the potential

201、that digitalization offers.Development partners should offer adequate support to low-income countries to strengthen their capabilities for digitalization and environmental sustainability and to ensure that they can participate effectively in a more circular global digital economy.Several internation

202、al developments provide opportunities for further advancement.The World Summit on the Information Society(WSIS),which first established global goals for digital development in the early 2000s,will be reviewed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2025.Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an enviro

203、nmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futurexxviiThe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,which was approved in 2015 and has sought to embed environmental sustainability at the heart of the international agenda,will be reviewed at the end of this decade.Even before either of these reviews,t

204、he United Nations General Assembly will hold a Summit of the Future and agree on a pact for the future with parts emphasizing sustainable development and digital cooperation.The pact is expected to include a global digital compact,which is to set out principles,objectives and actions for digital dev

205、elopment that support the Sustainable Development Goals.More effective global governance is neededThere is currently no inclusive global governance framework in place to help galvanize collective action and facilitate knowledge-sharing among countries,build consensus,set global standards and encoura

206、ge transparent reporting and monitoring of progress towards shared goals at the interface of digitalization and environmental sustainability.An inclusive and integrated approach is needed to enable policymakers to align their digital and environmental policies at all levels,thereby enhancing the glo

207、bal communitys ability to address complex and interdependent global challenges.Multilateral and cross-sectoral dialogue between digital and low-carbon policy communities should be established at the heart of discussions on sustainable development and embedded in the work of international standard-se

208、tting bodies.Multi-stakeholder partnerships(such as the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability)that can draw on the capabilities and strengths of international agencies,Governments,businesses and research organizations are likely to achieve better outcomes than Governments and multilater

209、al agencies acting alone.International processes and fora focusing on how to leverage digitalization for development,including the World Summit on the Information Society:20-Year Review(WSIS+20),the Commission on Science and Technology for Development and the global digital compact,should give due a

210、ttention to the environmental dimensions.There is an equal need for processes related to global environmental challenges such as the International Resource Panel,the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC)and the Intergovernmental S

211、ciencePolicy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services to give more attention to the role of digitalization.To protect the interests and well-being of all,including future generations,urgent and resolute actions have been called for to achieve systemic shifts in the areas of energy,food,mobili

212、ty and the built environment.It is time to extend the calls for bold action to the entire life cycle of digitalization and to start systematically tracking the environmental footprint of the ICT sector.While digitalization is a means to an end,it will need to be as environmentally sustainable as pos

213、sible AdobeStock_.shockChapter IDigitalization and environmental sustainability As the evolving digital economy continues to create both opportunities and challenges for trade and sustainable development,the Digital Economy Report 2024,for the first time,turns its attention to the environmental impl

214、ications of digitalization.Against a backdrop of multiple environmental crises and the digital solutions leveraged to tackle them,it is increasingly important to consider how to reduce the environmental footprint of digitalization itself.This chapter outlines the importance of exploring the implicat

215、ions that arise at the nexus of digitalization and environmental sustainability,and stresses the need to consider the entire life cycle of digital products.The chapter also notes that many developing countries face a particular challenge,as they are less equipped to harness digitalization to mitigat

216、e environmental risks while also being exposed to many of the potential environmental costs associated with digitalization.AdobeStock_.shock AdobeStock_.shock3Chapter IDigitalization and environmental sustainabilityA.The digitalization and environmental sustainability nexus1The concept of planetary

217、boundaries assesses human impact on nine dimensions of the planet relative to the time of pre-industrialization.This helps to determine the stability of the Earth system,which should support the well-being of people and the planet.Recent research has shown that globally,six out of nine boundaries ha

218、ve already been crossed(Richardson et al.,2023).1.An area in need of more attentionSustainable development is a vital priority for the United Nations and the global community,articulated in successive United Nations summits and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.Sustainable development i

219、mplies economic and social development that is consistent with the protection of planetary boundaries avoiding irreversible impacts on the environment and with intergenerational equity,the idea that todays development should not jeopardize the opportunities of future generations(World Commission on

220、Environment and Development,1987).1In this context,three issues have become critical:the consumption of natural resources,the impact of climate change(especially resulting from fossil fuel consumption)and pollution.The cost of failure in these three areas threatens all aspects of sustainability and

221、the future health of planet Earth.The Rio Declaration from the firstEarth Summit urged all stakeholders Governments,businesses and civil society to recognize that“environmental protection shall constitute an integralpart of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it”(Unite

222、d Nations,1993:Principle 4).Consequently,economic development that is not environmentally sustainable will also prove to be unsustainable economically.Recent editions of the Digital Economy Report have looked in depth at the implications of the rapid growth of electroniccommerce(e-commerce)and the d

223、igital economy on inclusive and sustainable development.They covered in particular the increasing significance of new digital technologies,platformization and digital data(UNCTAD,2019a,2021a).These reports highlighted the accelerated pace of digitalization,leading to a continuously changing nature o

224、f the digital economy,accompanied by widening digital and data divides and important environmental implications.They emphasized that bridging these divides and developing balanced frameworks for global governance of data and digital platforms are essential for ensuring inclusive and sustainable deve

225、lopment outcomes.Digital transformation of the world economy and society is taking place in parallel with growing concerns related to the depletion of raw materials,water use,air quality,pollution and waste generation,which are all linked to planetary boundaries,including climate change.Managing dig

226、ital transformation will greatly influence the future of humanity and the health of the planet.This report explores the interconnectedness of rapid digitalization and the urgent need to foster environmental sustainability against a backdrop of growing inequality and vulnerabilities,such as increasin

227、g socioeconomic disparity,environmental degradation and geopolitical tensions.It explores ways to achieve economic prosperity that are compatible with planetary boundaries and intergenerational equity.The topic is timely,not to say long overdue,as policy discussions on the environment and digitaliza

228、tion in the context of Sustainable development implies economic and social development consistent with planetary boundaries AdobeStock_.shock4Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futuresustainable development have evolved separately for too long.Soo

229、n after the second Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2012,critical voices emerged,suggesting that the Summit had failed to recognize the relationship between information and communications technologies(ICTs),the Internet and sustainability,all of which are crucial elements of sustainable development

230、 policy(Souter and MacLean,2012).The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,which was adopted in 2015,did not take a cross-cutting view of the role attributed to digitalization.The word“digital”is in fact mentioned only in reference to the“digital divide”.In the Paris Agreement,adopted in the same

231、year as the 2030 Agenda,ICTs were primarily highlighted as a means to share information,knowledge and good practices among countries and stakeholders;to enable the development of low carbon energy technologies;to improve energy efficiency and support various adaptation efforts,such as early warning

232、systems(United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC),2016).Similarly,the 2023 outcome document of the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change recognizes the importance of digital transformation and increased

233、 access to technologies to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Agreement(UNFCCC,2023)without taking into consideration its direct environmental impact.Digitalization has continued to evolve at a high speed and,from an environmental perspective,is offering new solutions but also obstacles to susta

234、inability(box I.1).The relationship between digitalization and environmental sustainability in all its dimensions is starting to receive more attention in policy debates with a view to maximizing potential gains from digitalization,while mitigating environmental harms and facilitating sustainability

235、.In the Bridgetown Covenant,the outcome document of the fifteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in 2021,member States included climate change,environmental degradation and the digital divide among the most important development questions(UNCTAD,2021b).This evoluti

236、on of the mandate is illustrative of the changing landscape of challenges faced by countries today,as well as their ever-increasing interconnectedness beyond trade,which requires a policy approach that breaks out of regulatory silos.There are growing references to the“twin transitions”,alluding to t

237、he need to enable,on the one hand,the transition to a more digital economy and,on the other,the transition to a low-carbon economy(Muench et al.,2022;UNCTAD,2023a).To date,shifts towards low-carbon and digital technologies have been considered as parallel processes.In reality,they are closely intert

238、wined within the broader transition of the global economy.Moving towards more environmentally sustainable economic activities needs digital tools to become more efficient and resilient in the long term.At the same time,while digitalization is a means to an end,it will need to be as environmentally s

239、ustainable as possibleto avoid adding to environmental risks.Moreover,the minerals and metal inputs needed for digitalization and the expansion of renewable energy sources are largely the same,creating competing demands and significantly influencing international trade and geopolitical dynamics.It i

240、s important to work towards ensuring that no one is left behind as the world transitions towards a more digital and environmentally sustainable future.A just,low-carbon and digital technology transition requires an integrated approach to sustainable development,which brings together social progress,

241、environmental protection and economic success into a framework of democratic governance.This extends to the human rights context.To date,shifts towards low-carbon and digital technologieswere considered in parallel,yet they are closely intertwined within the broader economic transition5Chapter IDigi

242、talization and environmental sustainabilityBox I.1 The rapidly evolving nature of digitalizationWhen assessing the trade and development interface between digitalization and environmental sustainability,it is essential to acknowledge the dynamic nature of digital technologies and their applications(

243、German Advisory Council on Global Change,2019;UNCTAD,2019a;Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative and Deloitte,2019).Continuing digitalization creates many new opportunities for harnessing data and digital technologies to foster trade and development and mitigate adverse development and environme

244、ntal impacts.At the same time,the importance of ensuring that the digital ecosystem is as environmentally sustainable as possible increases further.Higher speed.The increased use of the Internet and online services partly reflects the recent accelerated progress in high-speed online transmissions.Th

245、is opens up opportunities for developing new digital applications,such as digital government and financial services,social media and online purchases.Thedigital deliveryof services,both domestically and internationally,relies on greater bandwidth to support high-quality video calls or streaming.The

246、extent to which different parts of the world can seize such opportunities still varies greatly.Shift to the cloud.Cloud computing is a key element of the evolving digital landscape(UNCTAD,2013).It enables users to access scalable and flexible data storage and computing resources as well as to stream

247、 video and music.The imagery of the intangible“cloud”can be misleading;cloud computing is well anchored on the ground through hardware,networks,storage and services needed to deliver computing as a service.A defining feature of cloud storage is the transfer of large volumes of data to third party-ow

248、ned data centres,often controlled by a small number of very large companies(UNCTAD,2021a).Platformization.Digital platforms,acting as intermediaries and infrastructure of the digital economy,are uniquely placed to capture and extract extensive data from online actions and interactions on the platfor

249、ms.The expansion of digital platforms is directly linked to their capacity to collect,analyse and monetize digital data,with businesses ranging from Internet search and social media to cloud storage and e-commerce(UNCTAD,2019a).The growing role of platforms has led to strong market concentration,dom

250、inated by a small number of global digital platforms from the United States and China(UNCTAD,2021a).Platforms increasingly control all parts of the global data value chain,including data collection,data transmission(installing and owning cables and satellites),data storage(cloud and hyperscale data

251、centres)and data analysis(machine learning and artificial intelligence(AI).This pivotal role in the digital economy requires high levels of responsibility and better platform governance.Exponential data growth and real-time sensing.The surge in Internet use,improved cloud infrastructure and the grow

252、th of global platforms have significantly boosted interconnectedness among people,machines and the planet.Data generated in real time from improved interconnectedness can help to address various development challenges,including in agriculture,energy,health,home appliances and transportation by analy

253、sing(near)real-time data.For instance,the“Internet of things”(IoT),through sensing,automation and cloud computing,is expected to expand from 13 billion connections in 2022 to over 35 billion by 2028,particularly in Asia and the Pacific,and will employ various devices(sensors,meters,etc.)to collect a

254、nd transmit timely data(Global System for Mobile Communications Association(GSMA),2023a).At the same time,this increasing connectivity spurs the demand for digital devices,digital networks and services that support the IoT.This translates into more demand for natural resources,more use of water and

255、energy,more greenhouse gas emissions from the production and use of the devices,and more waste to handle at the end of life.Cognitive changes.The exponential increase in data generation is amplifying the importance of big data analytics,machine learning and AI.Global corporate investment in AI(inclu

256、ding private investment,mergers and acquisitions,public offerings,and minority stakes)surged from an estimated$15 billion in 2013 to$189 billion in 2023.a Concerns are mounting that powerful AI systems may be evolving too fast and too far,as labs compete to develop ever more sophisticated Internet o

257、f things connections to grow to 35 billion by 2028,mainly in Asia-Pacific6Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futuresolutions,with unknown consequences and limited regulation.b New generative AI solutions such as Bing,ChatGPT,Dall-e,Ernie,Gemini(fo

258、rmerly Bard),Gigachat,Midjourney,SenseChat and Tongyi Qianwen have been met with strong interest,although long-term user numbers remain uncertain.c While offering new experiences and value to users,AI applications are computationally costly,energy-and equipment-intensive and generate large quantitie

259、s of waste(Strubell et al.,2019).Towards virtuality.Another new feature driven by digitalization,higher computing power and speed is increased“virtuality”,seen in the growing use of augmented reality and virtual reality.Virtual reality offers a three-dimensional online environment that can be entere

260、d by using a dedicated headset connected to a computer or game console.Augmented reality shows the real world enhanced by computer-generated items,such as graphics,enhancing the real world by superimposing computer-generated information(Shen and Shirmohammadi,2008).Such technologies can enable users

261、 to access objects and experiences regardless of their physical location.Increased adoption of virtual reality may have both positive and negative environmental impacts,depending on the inputs required and whether it replaces or complements existing polluting behaviour.Distributed ledger technology.

262、Blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies allow multiple parties to engage in secure transactions without any intermediary.The technology underpins cryptocurrencies and holds potential for many domains relevant to developing countries,such as digital identification,securing property right

263、s and disbursing aid.d Blockchain technology,specifically cryptocurrencies that rely on proof-of-work as their mechanism to validate transactions,demands significant resources,notably electricity and processing power.The International Energy Agency(IEA)estimates blockchain energy demand to increase

264、by nearly 50 per cent between 2022 and 2026(IEA,2024).How growth in adoption of distributed ledger technology is handled will have environmental implications in the future,and will depend on adoption rates and efficiency improvements.Source:UNCTAD.aSee https:/aiindex.stanford.edu/report/.bSee https:

265、/futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/.cSee https:/ UNCTAD(2021c)for blockchain applications in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.United Nations General Assembly resolution 76/300,on the humanrightto a clean,healthy and sustainable environment,adopted in July 2022,recog

266、nizes that this right is“related to other rights and existing international law”(paragraph 2)and affirms that its promotion“requires the full implementation of the multilateral environmental agreements under the principles of international environmental law”(paragraph 3).The digitalization and envir

267、onmental sustainability nexus is to some extent reflected in the report by the United Nations 2See https:/www.un.org/en/common-agenda/summit-of-the-future.Secretary-General,Our Common Agenda,and its proposal for a global digital compact and the Inter-Agency Task Team for the Global Accelerator on Jo

268、bs and Social Protection for Just Transitions(United Nations,2021a).All this is expected to feature prominently in the Summit for the Future in September 2024.2As part of these broader efforts,new initiatives have been launched.In particular,in 2022,the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainabi

269、lity(CODES)developed an“Action Plan for a Sustainable Planet in the Digital Age”at the Stockholm+50 Conference(CODES,2022).Nonetheless,considerably more attention 7Chapter IDigitalization and environmental sustainabilityneeds to be given to the intersection between the rapidly evolving digital econo

270、my and environmental sustainability,and its implications for trade and development.The processes involved are all complex and difficult to regulate.2.Comprehensive life cycle assessmentsThe relationship between digitalization and environmental sustainability is multifaceted and can be explored from

271、various perspectives.There is a need to consider the extent to which digitalization complies with the“planetary guardrails”(Haum and Loose,2015),related to the climate,nature,soils and oceans.Key environmental impacts are linked to energy use and greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,protecting habitats,soil

272、 and water resources and reducing air pollution and waste.All of these are closely linked to the concept of the Anthropocene age which reflects how human activity has a long-lasting impact on the environment(The Economist,2023).Digital solutions are often seen as key for achieving Sustainable Develo

273、pment Goal 12 which relates to sustainable consumption and production.For example,they can reduce the environmentalimpacts of consumption and economic development through the use of smart devices and by enhancing production efficiency(World Economic Forum(WEF)and PwC,2020;Technopolis and Institut fr

274、 kologische Wirtschaftsforschung,2024).This raises a critical question of how to better leverage digitalization to achieve sustainability,for which improved data and measuring approaches are needed.Hence,the main focus of this report is how to make digitalization and activities related to the ICT se

275、ctor more sustainable.Unless adequately addressed,their negative impacts are likely to increase as digitalization expands across all sectors.3LCA can be applied in different areas and sectors.Recent UNCTAD work has investigated the trade impact from manufacturing(UNCTAD,2021d)and of plastic substitu

276、tes on the environment(UNCTAD,2023b).Discussions of sustainable consumption and production have increasingly focused on the desirability of a more circular economy to reduce environmental impacts.Most goods today are produced in an essentially linear model that begins with the extraction of raw mate

277、rials and passes from processing,design,manufacturing,distribution and use to disposal.As will be discussed later in this report,the digital economy still remains highly linear.A more circular digital economy would seek to reduce,reuse and recycle digital devices and infrastructure,including by exte

278、nding their lifespan.This can be achieved through sharing,rental or donation;maintenance and repair;resale and redistribution;as well as remanufacturing and refurbishing.These activities can help reduce emissions caused by mineral extraction and processing,manufacturing or final disposal.Ideally,tra

279、nsitioning to a more circular digital economy would help achieve at least equivalent levels of economic growth and business profitability to those in the linear economy but with greater environmental sustainability.The ability to identify significant environmental opportunities and risks arising fro

280、m digitalization is hampered by a lack of agreement on what specifically constitutes the ICT sector(typically,end-user devices,network infrastructure and data centres;figure I.1)and associated services and what needs to be included when measuring environmental impact.This together with a lack of rel

281、evantdata makes it challenging to develop targeted policy responses to minimize the environmental impacts of digitalization.To better understand these impacts,researchers use life-cycle assessments(LCAs)to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product or a service throughout its entire life span.3

282、 International standardization for LCA methodology,particularly ISO 14040 and ISO 14044,has laid the foundation for a formalized,robust and reliable approach to measuring environmental impacts.LCA is not limited Digital solutions are often seen as key for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 12 on

283、 sustainable consumption and production8Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futureto any single environmental indicator,such as GHG emissions,but can encompass multiple criteria.For instance,the LCA-based product environmental footprint methodology

284、 developed by the Joint Research Centre of the European Union identifies 16 environmental impacts that can be assessed through LCA,with a strong link to various Sustainable Development Goals and to planetary boundaries(Joint Research Centre,European Commission et al.,2019).4For digital transformatio

285、n,LCA canhelp to identify stages with important 4The Joint Research Centre suggests the following impact categories for a comprehensive environmental footprint of consumption in relation to Sustainable Development Goals:Goal 3(good health and well-being):human toxicity,cancer;human toxicity,non-canc

286、er;particulate matter;photochemical ozone formation;ionizing radiation;Goal 6(clean water and sanitation):impacts due to water use,ecotoxicity,eutrophication;Goal 13(climate action):climate change;impact due to resource use;Goal 14(life below water):eutrophication marine and freshwater;ecotoxicity;G

287、oal 15(life on land):impact due to land use;eutrophication terrestrial;acidification;impact due to mineral and metal resource use;ozone depletion(Joint Research Centre,European Commission et al.,2019).environmental impact from end-user devices and ICT infrastructure(networks and data centres),highli

288、ght potential environmental trade-offs and assess the sustainability potential of substituting digital for non-digital technologies(Hilty and Aebischer,2015;Itten et al.,2020).Given data availability,LCAs in the digital economy typically focus on GHG emissions.However,this focus has limitations.Such

289、 partial analysis can lead to production processes that are environmentally suboptimal,potentially leading to Source:UNCTAD,based on Pohl and Hinterholzer(2023).Figure I.1 The ICT sector is made up of three parts:Networks,data centres and end-user devicesCloud data centres Global Internet connectors

290、SatellitesInternet exchange pointsCore,metro,edge networksWired and wireless access networksRegional(edge)data centresIn-house data centresNetwork infrastructureData centresEnd-userdevices9Chapter IDigitalization and environmental sustainability“greenwashing”.For instance,electricity use by data cen

291、tres can be reduced by upgrading servers more frequently,yet this leads to more electronic waste.This report examines the three phases of the life cycle of end-user devices and ICT infrastructure and seeks to assess the environmental footprint of digitalization in view of the interconnected global c

292、hallenges of digitalization,climate change,trade and development.Typically,within such an assessment:The production phase covers the extraction of raw materials,including minerals and metals,and their complex refining process;the assembly of different components of devices and ICT infrastructure;and

293、 their subsequent transportation for global distribution.This phase is discussed in chapter II,with a particular focus on the intensity of mineral and metals use,as well as geopolitical,trade and development considerations of their value chain.The use phase considers environmental effects generated

294、by operating and using end-user devices,transmission networks and data centres.Particular attention is given to energy use,GHG emissions and water consumption.This is the focus of chapter III.Chapter V looks at a specific use case,namely the environmental impact of e-commerce.The end-of-life phase a

295、t the treatment of digital technologies after use,and the importance of movingtowards a more circular economy,is discussed in chapter IV.3.Direct and indirect effects The three phases of the life cycle of digitalization have different environmental impacts.In order to assess the overall possible eff

296、ects,it is important to distinguish between direct and indirect effects.55For more details,see Berkhout and Hertin(2001);Bieser and Hilty(2018);Bremer et al.(2023);Coroam et al.(2020);Hilty and Aebischer(2015);Horner et al.(2016);Pohl et al.(2019);Williams(2011).a.Direct effectsDirect(or first order

297、)effects result from digital devices and ICT infrastructure throughout their life cycle,spanning raw material extraction and processing,manufacturing,transportation for distribution,use and the end-of-life phase(ITU,2014).The direct effects on resource use,energy use,GHG emissions and water and soil

298、 pollution constitute their“environmental footprint”(Hilty and Aebischer,2015).As noted above,it is important to consider other direct environmental impacts beyond GHG emissions(Mewes,2023).For example,extraction of raw materials and handling of waste during production and end-of-life phases can hav

299、e significant environmental impacts,such as soil contamination and dangers to biodiversity(table I.1).Additionally,in extraction,production and cooling of digital devices and infrastructure significant amounts of water are used throughout the life cycle(Olivi-Paul,2022).GHG and water footprints,whil

300、e interconnected,raise different issues.In one sense they go together:the more ICT devices are built and deployed,the more energy is used,the more GHGs are emitted,and the more water is consumed.There can also be a negative correlation.For example,there is often a trade-off between the energy and th

301、e water used for cooling.Moreover,while GHG emissions are particularly relevant for climate change,the water footprint relates to freshwater scarcity(increasingly a consequence of climate change)and possible impacts on biodiversity.Unlike the global impact of GHG emissions,which can be offset in var

302、ious places,negative impacts on water supply are highly location-specific.Saving water in one area cannot compensate for the local impact in another.Focusing only on GHG emissions can result in environmentally suboptimal production processes,potentially leading to“greenwashing”10Digital Economy Repo

303、rt 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futureb.Indirect and rebound effectsIndirect(or second and higher order)effects describe other environmental impacts from the use of digital technologies and services in different sectors of the economy,thus going beyond the direct

304、footprint of the ICT sector.These can be both environmentally beneficial and harmful.Positive indirect effects that decrease emissions or other environmental harms are sometimes referred to as“enabling effects”,“abatement”or“avoided emissions”(Bremer et al.,2023).Data-driven digital technologies can

305、 be powerful tools to mitigate negative environmental footprints from economic activities.For instance,they can enable real-time monitoring and adaptation in resource use(“optimization effect”).Substituting physical goods and travel with digital alternatives can enable decarbonization and dematerial

306、ization within some production and consumption patterns(“substitution effect”).Various studies highlight the potential for significant GHG emissions reduction through the effective use of digital technologies in different industries(box I.2).The International Panel of Climate Change(IPCC)acknowledge

307、s the potential role of digital technologies,including sensors,IoT and AI to mitigate climate change,improve energy management,boost energy efficiency and promote the adoption of low-emission technologies while creating economic opportunities(IPCC,2022a).Despite this,take-up of digitally enabled pro

308、duction processes remains limited.Industry estimates suggest that effective use of digital technologies could significantly reduce global GHG emissions(Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative and Deloitte,2019).The same study optimistically concluded that digitally induced reductions of emissions

309、could be nearly seven times the size of the growth in total carbon emissions from the ICT sector over the same period.Researchers also recognize the potential Life cycle phaseType of environmental impactDigital device example:SmartphoneProductionRaw materials extraction.Impacts on GHG emissions and

310、the local environment from extracting and processing raw materials to make digital devices and infrastructure.Materials,fossil fuels and water needed fortransport and processing of raw materials for smartphone production.Production and transportation.Impacts on GHG emissions and water use from manuf

311、acturing and transporting digital devices and infrastructure.Energy and water to produce and ship a smartphone to market.UseImpacts on GHG emissions and water use from operating digital devices and infrastructure.Energy needed to use a phone;energy and water needed to power the underlying digital in

312、frastructure such as data centres,mobile or fixed broadband.End-of-lifeImpacts on GHG emissions,pollution of water and soil from reuse,recycling and end-of-life treatment of digital devices and infrastructure.Negative:Energy to dispose of the smartphone;impacts on water and soil from recycling and d

313、isposal of components.Positive:Proper reuse and recycling of devices and components reduces future negative impacts from raw material extraction.Source:UNCTAD,adapted from Bremer et al.(2023);Pohl et al.(2019);Horner et al.(2016).Notes:A red upward pointing arrow indicates a negative effect(increasi

314、ng environmental impact);a green downward pointing arrow indicates a beneficial effect(avoided impact).A red upward pointing arrow next to a green downward pointing arrow means that the net effect can be either positive or negative.Table I.1 Direct environmental effects of digital devices and infras

315、tructure 11Chapter IDigitalization and environmental sustainabilityof supply chain and business model innovations to reduce the environmental impact of the economy(Blanco et al.,2022;Parida et al.,2019;Wang,2017).Furthermore,machine learning offers mitigation potential by improving monitoring,energy

316、 use and optimizing transport and construction(Rolnick et al.,2023).To date,various studies have been unable to confirm the potential for environmental gains from digitalization through anticipated Box I.2 Opportunities for digital technologies to mitigate carbon emissionsDigital technologies can be

317、 applied across sectors with a view to reducing negative environmental effects.This box provides examples of potential opportunities including in global value chains,transportation,construction,agriculture and energy.However,in most areas,empirical evidence on actual gains realized remains limited.D

318、igital technologies can be used to make global value chains more environmentally sustainable by enhancing productivity,reducing environmental impacts of current production and consumption modes,introducing new,more environmentally friendly technologies and eco products,and enhancing the diffusion of

319、 business models based on circular economies(UNCTAD,2023c).The use of advanced robotics,three-dimensional printing,sensors and wireless technologies can enable automation and the decentralization of tasks to potentially reduce emissions from transport.Digitalization can also help to better monitor e

320、nvironmental standards,optimize logistics,boost operational efficiency and thereby reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption.Data processing technologies,such as big data analytics,cloud computing and AI,further contribute to environmentally sustainable production processes.The transport sector

321、 accounts for about one-quarter of global energy-related GHG emissions;varying from below 3 per cent in some least developed countries(LDCs)to more than 30 per cent in high-income countries,although growth rates in transport-related emissions have been larger in developing regions in recent years.a

322、Smartphone applications can help to optimize routes and vehicle efficiency(GSMA,2019).However,the effect of circular and shared economy initiatives as well as other aspects of digitalization is uncertain(IPCC,2022a).Dematerialization could reduce demand for transport services,while an increase in e-

323、commerce with priority delivery may raise demand for freight transport.Another major contributor to emissions is the buildings and construction sector.In 2021,this sector accounted for 37 per cent of energy and process-related CO2 emissions.b Digital technologies may be leveraged to reap benefits fr

324、om optimizing energy use through automation in smart buildings and cities(Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative and Deloitte,2019).The agricultural sector accounts for 1012 per cent of global anthropogenic(human-generated)GHG emissions.Precision agriculture,improved weather prediction and the Io

325、T in smart water infrastructure can notably reduce CO2 emissions and improve irrigation efficiency(Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative and Deloitte,2019;Technopolis and Institut fr kologische Wirtschaftsforschung,2024).At the same time,precision farming has been found to only slightly reduce p

326、esticide use(Bovensiepen et al.,2016).According to the IPCC(2022a),improvements in energy efficiency from digital technologies can help to reduce energy demand in all end-use sectors.This includes material input savings and increased coordination.For example,smart appliances and energy management ca

327、n effectively reduce energy demand and associated GHG emissions without reducing service levels;similarly,district heat systems can use waste heat from nearby data centres.Source:UNCTAD,based on cited sources.aSee IPCC(2014,2022a).bSee https:/www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/co2-emissions

328、-buildings-and-construction-hit-new-high-leaving-sector.Empirical evidenceon actual environmental gains from digitalization remains limited12Digital Economy Report 2024Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital futureefficiency and substitution gains from ICT(Clausen et al.,2022;Sc

329、hultze et al.,2016).In fact,one review found no significant shift towards sustainable energy consumption levels in any sector after introducing digital tools(Lange et al.,2020).Similarly,the IPCC(2022a)stresses that potential gains may be reduced or counterbalanced by“rebound effects”,leading to inc

330、reased demand for and use of goods and services.Rebound effects in digitalization,where initial positive impacts are offset by increased demand and use,can undermine the benefits of more efficient goods and services(Vickery,2012;Coroam and Mattern,2019;Technopolis and Institut fr kologische Wirtscha

331、ftsforschung,2024).Rebound effects can occur for the same good or service because the efficiency gains made it cheaper or more convenient to consume more of it.The money or time saved through digitally induced efficiency,however,can also lead to the increased consumption of other goods and services,

332、two phenomena often referred to as“income effect”(Coroam and Mattern,2019)and“time rebound”(Binswanger,2001),respectively.Digitalization is also decreasing the skill thresholds needed to perform various activities,thus likely increasing their use(“induction effect”)a phenomenon that may be particula

333、rly visible for autonomous vehicles(Coroam and Pargman,2020)and the use of data analysis through large language AI models,such as ChatGPT,which previously required specialized training.Additionally,an“obsolescence effect”may arise as certain unconnected products become less useful because they are not connected to newer generations of technology(Hilty and Aebischer,2015).Even if it is possible to