Although vehicles and factories are commonly associated with climate change, emails have also been found to have a significant role in contributing to this problem. This is because energy is required for sending, receiving, and storing emails, and data centers that contain our digital information consume a large amount of electricity to power the servers that keep our emails running smoothly. This electricity is often generated from fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases that trap heat and contribute to climate change.
It is an established fact that maintaining good health can greatly extend a person’s life. One way to accomplish this is by reducing the quantity of emails that we send on a daily basis. Every email we send has a carbon footprint, and by minimizing this activity, we help to make the planet a better place, resulting in a longer life for people.
A report by Ovo Energy suggests that each person sending one less email a day would save over 16,433 tons of carbon a year, a number that is equivalent to 81,1522 flights to Madrid or taking 3,3343 diesel cars off the road. According to this report, while emails are an integral means of communication in today’s society, the carbon emissions they produce are not always worth it. Unfortunately, it has become normal practice to send brief emails to friends or colleagues for the most trivial reasons, such as a simple “thank you,” a casual “cheers,” or even a spontaneous “LOL.” Even when we are sitting across from a coworker at the office, instead of engaging in meaningful in-person interactions, we prefer to exchange brief emails for convenience. All of these are damaging the environment. Even the briefest of messages results in a larger carbon footprint.
Mike Berners-Lee, a researcher and author of “How Bad are Bananas?” and “There is no Planet B,” emphasizes the importance of establishing healthy email habits “Whilst the carbon footprint of an email isn’t huge, it’s a great illustration of the broader principle that cutting the waste out of our lives is good for our wellbeing and good for the environment. Every time we take a small step towards changing our behavior, be that sending fewer emails or carrying a reusable coffee cup, we need to treat it as a reminder to ourselves and others that we care even more about the really big carbon decisions.”
The consequences of carbon footprints are manifold and far-reaching. They contribute significantly to climate change, causing rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and disruptions to ecosystems and food systems. Carbon emissions pose significant health and livelihood challenges, causing heat-related illnesses, vector-borne infections, and malnutrition. When we acknowledge the environmental consequences of our digital habits, we can take significant steps towards reducing carbon emissions. Reducing email sends us closer to a carbon-free future, allowing for long-term living for many.
