Environmental Impact of Digital Technology (Edexcel IGCSE Ict)
Exam board Pearson Edexcel · IGCSEUpdated 2024-06-13
Spec point —
3.8.5
Environmental impact of digital technology
What are the environmental impacts of digital technology?
-
The environmental impacts of digital technology can be categorised in to four key areas:
- Carbon footprint
- E-waste
- Resource consumption
- Energy use
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Carbon footprint | - The production of, using of and disposing of digital technology adds to greenhouse gas emissions |
| E-waste | - A throw-away society generates a growing amount of e-waste - It often ends up in landfills in less developed countries, leading to health and pollution hazards |
| Resource consumption | - Rare materials and resources being consumed during the manufacturing of digital devices |
| Energy use | - Increased use of data centres and the number of digital devices in the home adding extra strain to power grids |
Sustainability
- Energy use is a big factor in the sustainability issues caused by the use of digital devices
| Cause | Issue | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Digital devices at home and in the office | Power is produced using non-renewable energies | - Using renewable energies - Using more energy efficient devices |
| Data centres | Requires extensive cooling which is generated by non-renewable energies | - Geolocation of data centres in colder climates - Near rivers to to use of natural hydro-electric power |
| Natural resources | Poisonous substances used in digital devices | - Recycling - Education - Laws - Harmless alternatives |
Worked Example Explain one benefit to the environment of buying previously-owned devices
[2]
Answer
Examples could include:
- It is more sustainable [1] because fewer precious metals used/required/mined [1]
- Reduces/mitigates the impact on the food chain [1] because fewer waste materials leak into the ground/water supply/food chain [1]
- The need to mine more is delayed [1] because precious metals are reused [1]
- Non-renewable resources like oil are not depleted [1] because less plastic is used [1]
Was this revision note helpful?
Build on this topic