Best practices and strategies for climate-conscious product management

Digital Is Physical

The digital revolution, while transformative, carries a profound environmental footprint. It is estimated that the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector alone accounts for approximately 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions—a figure larger than the entire aviation industry and equivalent to road freight. With projections suggesting that this number may reach up to 14% by 2040, the consequences for our climate and biodiversity cannot be overstated.

This playbook seeks to illuminate the often-overlooked fact that the digital world is indeed physical: tethered to the environment in a multitude of ways. Every byte of data, every online transaction, and every digital innovation leaves a mark on our planet. It’s crucial to recognize that the servers, data centers, end-user devices, and vast infrastructure enabling our digital experiences are grounded in physical reality, consuming environmental resources and energy.