Will RichardsonHead of EcoSystems and Networks, 51toCarbonZero · Sustainability & Net-Zero Strategy Leader | Helping £100m+ Enterprises Cut Climate Risk & Operating Costs | Head of EcoSystems & Networks | Host of Sustainability Solved Podcast

ICT emissions are destroying the planet 🌍 #climatepolicy #data

15 Jun 2026 · 0 min

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In this YouTube segment, Will Richardson argues that the internet’s carbon footprint is larger than that of international aviation. He references a joint World Bank and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) report that estimates the ICT sector accounts for between 1.5% and 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with a conservative lower bound of at least 1.7%. This share surpasses the total emissions from all passenger flights worldwide, highlighting the significant climate impact of digital technologies.

If the internet were a country, its emissions would rank higher than international aviation— higher than every passenger flight on the planet combined. The joint World Bank and ITU report puts the ICT sector's share of global greenhouse gas emissions at somewhere between 1.5% and 4%. Even the conservative estimate is at least 1.7%. That is already larger than the footprint of international aviation.