ABSTRACT
Another energy-hungry sector of the economy is information and communication technology (ICT). ree major ICT subsectors can be identi„ed: (a) computers and peripherals, (b) data centers, and (c) telecommunication networks and devices. In 2007, the total carbon footprint of the ICT sector was 830 MtCO2e (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent), which is about 2% of the estimated total emissions from global human activity released that year (Webb 2008). Table 11.1 summarizes the total carbon footprint of each subsector in MtCO2e in 2002 and the predicted values in 2020. e 2020 predictions optimistically assume certain improvement in the energy e¢ciency of the components of each sector. Yet, an overall annual growth rate of 6% is predicted. Evidently, green technologies for ICT ought to be pursued.
