Study: Streaming raises CO2 emissions

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2020/sep/13/study-streaming-raises-co2-emissions/

Streaming high-definition videos and games can result in significant greenhouse gas emissions, depending on the technology used, according to a German government-backed study released Thursday. Germany's Federal Environment agency calculated the amount of carbon dioxide produced by data centers where the material is stored for streaming, and by the transmission technology used to get it to consumers. 

Streaming video over fibre optic cables results in the lowest amount of CO2 emissions which turned out to be 2 grams per hour. Using copper cables produces twice that amount, while 3G mobile technology results in a hefty 90 grams of CO2 per hour. 

Shockingly, data centers accounted for only a small share of the overall energy use, although the amount varied significantly depending on how efficiently servers were used and cooled, according to the report.

German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze explained that the study was an attempt to provide solid data for decision-makers, as digital infrastructure has become increasingly important at the same time as countries try to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.