Digital sustainability

Arcep has been a pioneer in the area of digital sustainability, and is recognised for its work both at the European and international level, including by the World Bank and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have published a joint study titled: “Measuring the Environmental impact of the ICT Sector – Arcep case study voted entirely to the pioneering approach spearheaded by Arcep.

The carbon footprint generated by one year's consumption of digital goods and services in France in 2022 represents around 4% of the national carbon footprint. If nothing is done to curtail it, digital technology’s environmental footprint could triple between 2020 and 2050! This figure is taken from the ADEME-Arcep study, and do not factor in the tremendous increase in the use of generative AI systems.

Digital technology’s impact on the environment is not confined to its carbon footprint or greenhouse gas emissions. The production of network equipment and connected devices (smartphones, computers, TVs, connected objects, etc.) is also contributing to the depletion of multiple resources: to give an example, from their ICT use alone, a person living in France generates the extraction or relocation of more than 900 kilos of resources a year, be it water, metals, fossil fuels…

In their joint study on digital technology’s environmental footprint, Arcep and ADEME examined the progression of four indicators from 2020 to 2030 and 2050.

ADEME-Arcep study: assessment of the digital environmental footprint in France in 2020, 2030 and 2050

• Read the press release
• Check out Arcep data visualisation and infographics in the press kit

Drawing on the findings of its work, Arcep recommends, for instance, extending the life of one’s devices as much as possible, opting for a fixed internet connection (fibre, ADSL) whenever possible, and taking advantage of smartphone settings (deleting apps that are not being used, choosing the greenest video resolution settings, etc.).

Of all the devices in a household, 1.8 are kept unused and could therefore be reconditioned or recycled. Yet the environmental impact of digital technology stems mainly from devices (another term used to designate the equipment that serves as an interface between us and our digital uses: smartphones, televisions, connected speakers, computers, etc.) and in particular from their manufacturing phase.

Encouraging the reuse of these equipments is one of the levers that can be used to increase the lifespan of devices and thus limit their environmental impact. In 2024, 22% of respondents said they owned a smartphone that they had bought reconditioned or second-hand. The purchase of reconditioned equipment is therefore still insufficiently identified as a lever for reducing the digital environmental footprint.

First, economic stakeholders, including Big Tech companies, must become accountable: through their technological choices, the new requirements and demand they generate, they hold the biggest keys to reducing the environmental footprint.

With this in mind, Arcep and Arcom, in collaboration with ADEME, published the General policy framework for the ecodesign of digital services (RGESN). The aim of this policy framework is to reduce digital services’ – including websites, video platforms, applications and AI tools – impact on the environment from the design stage.

Arcep began to work on digital technology’s environmental impact in 2019 and has been steadily entrusted by lawmakers with new responsibilities, to collect data from digital industry stakeholders on their environmental footprint.

This data collection process, which began in 2020 with the country’s four main electronic communications operators, was later expanded through the “REEN 2” Act of 23 December 2021, to include data centre operators, operating system providers, public online communication service providers, device and network equipment suppliers.

Arcep makes this work public through its annual “Achieving digital sustainability” survey, which provides readers with the ability to track the progress of greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and device recycling and refurbishment.

Thanks to this Law, the survey is expanded every year to include new stakeholders or the collection of new types of data. In 2024 it was completed by the collection of environmental data on mobile network equipment.

On 7 October 2024, Arcom and Arcep, in tandem with ADEME, published an unprecedented study on the environmental impact of audiovisual media consumption in France in 2022, and up to 2030. The study revealed that audiovisual media consumption represents 5.6 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, or around one third of digital technology’s carbon footprint in France, as calculated in the Arcep-ADEME study. If no steps are taken to limit the growing environmental impact of audiovisual media consumption, its carbon footprint could increase by 30% by 2030.

Arcep is also a proactive contributor to public debates and plays an active role on the national, European and international stages, sharing its experience and the findings of its work on digital technology’s impact on the environment.

The production of robust, quantified studies, based on shared methodologies creates the ability to provide a detailed overview and identify the key courses of action to be taken. They help raise collective awareness and inform objective discussions. These studies and publications thus make it possible to confirm or refute certain hunches about digital technology’s environmental impact.

Arcep contributes to measuring digital technology’s environmental footprint:

• Through the publication of its annual “Achieving digital sustainability” survey
• Through the work conducted with ADEME: a joint study on the digital environmental footprint in 2020, 2030 and 2050 

By co-chairing Expert committees, and publishing their reports

• Report: “The scope of internet of things (IoT) with respect to information and communication technologies (ICT)”
  - Press release
  - Full report
  - Executive Summary
• Report: “Energy Assessment of 4G vs. 5G deployment” 
  - Executive Summar
• Report: “Carbon impact of shutting down 2G and 3G networks”
  - Press release
  - Full report
  - Executive Summary

By tracking the French population’s digital habits, along with Arcom

• Digital Market Barometer, study of the environmental impact of audiovisual media services’ different broadcasting methods, and the common index of digital practices.

Through its work with Arcom and ADEME on the environmental impact of audiovisual media consumption in France in 2022 and up to 2030

• Read the joint study

At Arcep’s instigation, Europe’s electronic communication regulators have incorporated the issues surrounding digital technology’s environmental footprint since 2020 into the work done by BEREC, making it part of the Body’s 2021-2025 strategy. The “Sustainability” working group, which is currently co-chaired by Arcep, brings together experts from national authorities and the European Commission, with the goal of raising awareness amongst European regulators, to develop their expertise on digital technology’s impact on the environment, and to identify best practices for taking effective action to tackle environmental issues. BEREC is the key body for dialogue and coordination, for drafting and sharing best practices that are adapted to the sector’s realities, and implemented in a way that meets the European Union’s high environmental goals and standards.

Learn more about Arcep’s role in and actions within European institutions and around the world.