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Less than one in three French people feel well informed about the impact of digital technology on the environment

Published on 01 October 2019
Update on 26 September 2022
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Summary

The direct energy footprint of digital technology is growing rapidly: 9% per year.

The digital sector's share of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Shift Project, in greenhouse gas emissions increased by half between 2013 and 2017, from 2.5% to 3.7% of total global emissions. The explosion of uses and the multiplication of frequently renewed digital devices are the main factors of inflation.The direct energy consumption caused by a Euro of digital has increased by 37% compared to 2010. Digital CO2 emissions increased between 2013 and 2017 by about 450 million tons in the OECD.

According to a survey conducted by the BVA / Digital Society Forum Digital Observatory, the French still have a poor perception of the links between digital and the environment. " The reason: a real lack of information and awareness," note the authors of this survey. 27% of respondents feel well informed about the impact of digital technology on the environment

The link between digital and the environment is still poorly perceived

"When asked about the links between digital and the environment, respondents mention both positive elements (saving paper and preserving forests, promoting ecology) and negative ones (pollution, energy consumption)."

"When asked, on the other hand, directly about the impact of digital technology on the environment, then twice as many consider the impact to be negative (40%) rather than positive (21%), while 30% say they do not know."

73% believe that the development of digital equipment has a significant impact on the environment (73%), 63% for connected objects (63%).

In contrast, the French are less aware of the potentially significant effects of consuming video content (49%) and sending emails (48%) on the environment

Shared positions on the impact of digital technology on the energy transition

The French people surveyed have a hard time deciding on the impact of digital technology on the energy transition: 24% see it as a lever, 18% see it as a brake and 27% say they do not know...

"Similarly, they are very divided on the effectiveness of digital tools to encourage the adoption of eco-responsible practices: 41% consider them effective and 39% not effective."

Are environmentally responsible practices likely to develop?

More than three quarters (79%) regularly clean up their email by deleting emails, unsubscribe (69%) from unread newsletters, or set digital devices to energy-saving mode (60%).

But only 38% of them, for example, limit the viewing of videos on the Internet or turn off their box (30%).

Strong expectations away from the major digital players

"For a majority of respondents, it is first and foremost the major digital players (62%) who must get involved in the ecological transition through digital, ahead of the major telecom operators (56%), citizens (54%) and the Government and its related public organizations (52%).

For the time being, telecom operators (50%) and major digital players (51%) are considered to be mostly uninvolved or not involved in the ecological transition.

73% of respondents believe that the general public should be made aware of the impact of their digital habits on the environment, and 51% believe that digital players should be mobilized to make consumers aware of the "eco-friendly" use of their products (50%).

"In terms of innovation, the use of recycled components (58%), the development of tools to reduce the impact of digital technology on the environment, such as a box that turns itself off when not in use (55%), and the development of the digital tool repair and refurbishment sector (52%) are considered priorities.

Références :

Sources

Less than one in three French people feel well informed about the impact of digital technology on the environment

The direct energy footprint of digital technology is growing rapidly: 9% per year.

The digital sector's share of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Shift Project, in greenhouse gas emissions increased by half between 2013 and 2017, from 2.5% to 3.7% of total global emissions. The explosion of uses and the multiplication of frequently renewed digital devices are the main factors of inflation.The direct energy consumption caused by a Euro of digital has increased by 37% compared to 2010. Digital CO2 emissions increased between 2013 and 2017 by about 450 million tons in the OECD.

According to a survey conducted by the BVA / Digital Society Forum Digital Observatory, the French still have a poor perception of the links between digital and the environment. " The reason: a real lack of information and awareness," note the authors of this survey. 27% of respondents feel well informed about the impact of digital technology on the environment

The link between digital and the environment is still poorly perceived

"When asked about the links between digital and the environment, respondents mention both positive elements (saving paper and preserving forests, promoting ecology) and negative ones (pollution, energy consumption)."

"When asked, on the other hand, directly about the impact of digital technology on the environment, then twice as many consider the impact to be negative (40%) rather than positive (21%), while 30% say they do not know."

73% believe that the development of digital equipment has a significant impact on the environment (73%), 63% for connected objects (63%).

In contrast, the French are less aware of the potentially significant effects of consuming video content (49%) and sending emails (48%) on the environment

Shared positions on the impact of digital technology on the energy transition

The French people surveyed have a hard time deciding on the impact of digital technology on the energy transition: 24% see it as a lever, 18% see it as a brake and 27% say they do not know...

"Similarly, they are very divided on the effectiveness of digital tools to encourage the adoption of eco-responsible practices: 41% consider them effective and 39% not effective."

Are environmentally responsible practices likely to develop?

More than three quarters (79%) regularly clean up their email by deleting emails, unsubscribe (69%) from unread newsletters, or set digital devices to energy-saving mode (60%).

But only 38% of them, for example, limit the viewing of videos on the Internet or turn off their box (30%).

Strong expectations away from the major digital players

"For a majority of respondents, it is first and foremost the major digital players (62%) who must get involved in the ecological transition through digital, ahead of the major telecom operators (56%), citizens (54%) and the Government and its related public organizations (52%).

For the time being, telecom operators (50%) and major digital players (51%) are considered to be mostly uninvolved or not involved in the ecological transition.

73% of respondents believe that the general public should be made aware of the impact of their digital habits on the environment, and 51% believe that digital players should be mobilized to make consumers aware of the "eco-friendly" use of their products (50%).

"In terms of innovation, the use of recycled components (58%), the development of tools to reduce the impact of digital technology on the environment, such as a box that turns itself off when not in use (55%), and the development of the digital tool repair and refurbishment sector (52%) are considered priorities.

Références :

Sources

Labo Société Numérique

Labo République Française Agence nationale de cohésion des territoires
Less than one in three French people feel well informed about the impact of digital technology on the environment