Sam D

Digital technologies can help reduce carbon emissions. However, the resources used and carbon produced in order to manufacture the hardware (not to mention the electricity they use) have to be taken into account. Under current conditions, I would say that digital devices are still creating more pollution than they save. I would argue that the tendency for digital technologies to cause consumers to buy more, (if only due to the rapid obsolescence of digital devices), makes this doubly true. Technologies that can reduce the need to travel, particularly by air, could have a significant positive impact. But videoconferencing and most other technologies require reliable and secure high-speed broadband access. Any obstacle to speed and reliability is going to reduce the effectiveness of these advances. On a different note, and with reference to the overall tone of this blog post and it's timing, do I detect a hint of "greenwashing"?