2023-08-25 20:52:25
Title: Myth Busted: Emails’ Carbon Footprint Exaggerated, Study Finds
Subtitle: Claim that emails have the same CO2 emissions as a plastic bag debunked by recent research
Date: [Insert Date]
In a recent article titled “Plastic bags in your inbox?” published by the Groene Amsterdammer, concerns about the digital carbon footprint were raised, including the claim that the CO2 emissions of an email are as significant as those of a plastic bag. However, a fact-checking investigation has revealed that this claim is false.
The source of the claim can be traced back to a book by carbon footprint specialist Mike Berners-Lee titled “How Bad are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything,” published in 2010. Berners-Lee’s 2010 figures, which estimated that a 1 MB email attachment resulted in 11 grams of CO2 emissions, have been widely cited over the years. His work even influenced the British government’s estimates on reducing CO2 emissions from emails.
However, in a more recent edition of his book in 2020, Berners-Lee acknowledged that his previous figures were “rough estimates.” He updated his calculations to estimate that a short email sent from laptop to laptop emits about 0.4 grams of CO2, significantly lower than the earlier claim. The emissions from a plastic bag, depending on its type, range from 3 to 50 grams according to Berners-Lee’s book. Therefore, the comparison between the carbon footprint of an email and that of a plastic bag is inaccurate in most cases.
Even though the carbon footprint of emails is not as substantial as previously believed, it is essential to put it into perspective. The overall impact of reducing the number of emails sent remains minimal, as emails constitute only a fraction of total internet traffic. Additionally, studies suggest that deleting emails manually can result in more carbon emissions than simply storing them, depending on the laptop’s power source.
Experts in the field, such as former Stanford researcher Jonathan Koomey, argue that the impact of an additional email on the climate is minimal. Koomey emphasizes the net CO2 reduction achieved if emails can replace physical meetings or travels. To achieve a carbon-neutral internet, they suggest focusing on more pressing policy challenges rather than limiting the number of emails sent.
Furthermore, the CO2 emissions of an email should also consider the entire system, including servers and data centers. Most of these systems remain active regardless of whether an email is sent. While data centers can save energy by using fewer servers when fewer emails are sent, the energy savings per email are likely to be less than 1 gram.
To effectively reduce the carbon footprint of emails, experts suggest buying fewer electronics, using them longer, and choosing energy-efficient appliances.
In conclusion, the claim that emails cause significant CO2 emissions, equivalent to those of a plastic bag, has been debunked. Updated research recognizes that the carbon footprint of emails is relatively small, with emissions ranging from 0.4 to 3 grams of CO2 per email. It is crucial to contextualize the carbon footprint of emails within the broader perspective of internet traffic and the need for energy-efficient appliances to achieve meaningful reductions in carbon emissions.]
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