Digital skills for adults - Course 1- English FF
Module 4: Protecting the environment (Método)
4.1. Learning Objective: short summary of the training module. (Half page)
4.2. Learning Content (Min. 5 pages, max 8 pages. Only text)
4.3. One self-evaluation activity (Check the example)
4.4. Bibliographic references
(Two questions for the final test) (Check the example)
Learning
objectives:
The
use of digital technologies has an impact on the environment; all of
our activities on internet have some impacts, but that impact is hard
to notice and to quantify.
In this module participants will learn how the digital world impacts the environment and best and easy to implement practices they can adopt in their everyday activities to be more sustainable.
The module is divided in two sub-sections; one is ab out the carbon footprint of the digital society and the second one is the carbon footprint of the manufacturing of digital components. Manufacturers and big technological companies are responsible for most of the pollution; but there are few actions that small consumers can take to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.
Training
contents:
Carbon footprint of digital society.
The
use of digital technologies impacts the environment in several ways.
In this module, you will see how the environment is impacted by our
actions and how we can mitigate them.
Every search on internet, every message we send from our smartphone, every song we listen, has an impact on the environment. You cannot touch the data you are sending or receiving; but each exchange of data or streaming of contents has a carbon footprint that is real.
Each
of these activities you perform online comes with a small cost – a
few grams of carbon dioxide are emitted due to the energy needed to
run your devices and power the wireless networks you access. Less
obvious, but perhaps even more energy intensive, are the data centers
and vast servers needed to support the internet and store the content
we access over it.
One
of the problems attached to digitization is that all activities
require a lot of energy; and since digitization advances in many
sectors, the demand of energy also increases.
In an increasingly digitized society, the amount of digital data and transactions that occur every minute is difficult to estimate.
According
to data compiled by Visual Capitalist, a single internet minute holds
more than 400,000 hours of video streamed on Netflix, 500 hours of
video uploaded by users on Youtube and nearly 42 million messages
shared via WhatsApp. That same internet minute also contains more
than 6,500 packages shipped by Amazon as well as an incredible
208,333 participants in Zoom meetings.
The
real carbon footprint of such transactions is very high to estimate
as it depends on many factors, such as the type of device, the
quality of the connection and the activity we are doing.
What
can you do to contribute to lower the carbon footprint of your
activities?
At
home:
Use energy from renewable sources if possible. Some energy companies provide information about the source of the energy they are providing to clients. If possible, make sure that your energy comes from renewable sources.
When possible, use WIFI instead of mobile networks. The infrastructure that ensures that you have coverage on your smartphone needs a lot of energy to function since buildings or bad weather affect transmission; so very powerful antennas are installed that require a large amount of energy; while ADSL that is provided through a cable is much more efficient and less energy consuming.
Video streaming is very energy consuming activity. Don’t play videos if you are not watching them. If you need background noise for sleeping or while working, try to stream music, or turn on the radio. Also, when watching a movie, lower the quality if possible, so the video will consume less energy.
Switch-off devices when you are not using them or use the energy-saving mode when possible.
Use carbon-neutral browsers and searching engines like ECOSIA; a search engine page that uses 80% of the revenues from your searches to plant trees all over the world. https://www.ecosia.org/
At
the office:
Don’t include many people in copy of an email or message if it is not really necessary.
Clean your inbox regularly, storage of data requires a lot of energy.
Instead of attaching documents to your messages, send a link to a collaborative tool, like Google Drive or a link to a shared digital album of pictures.
Try to keep online meetings short and concise.
Don’t subscribe to newsletters you are not going to read.
Conclusion: use internet with moderation, it is
good for the environment, and for your mental health.
2.—Carbon
footprint of technological devices.
The
production and manufacture of technological devices is a very
energy-intensive activity, which also uses materials that are from
non-renewable sources; the short life of these devices and the lack
of recycling is also an added problem.
The
production of these devices is also linked to social problems, since
many devices are assembled in countries with poor working conditions
and very cheap labor. The uses of rare earth metals, like coltan, has
also increase the number of conflicts in African producer countries
to try to obtain the control over production.
The
main responsibility on this topic lies on the producers, but
consumers can also adopt some sustainable practices to contribute to
reduce the carbon footprint associated with technological devices.
You
may have heard the concept programmed obsolescence before. Programmed
obsolescence, also named built.in obsolescence, it is the policy of
deliberately limiting the life of a product in order to encourage the
purchaser to replace it. This philosophy applies to many industrial
and consuming items, like washing machines, smartphones, computers,
printers; but also, clothes.
The
European Union, as part of the Green Deal plan; is starting to fight
this programmed obsolescence and introducing some changes in this
aspect; like the right to repair, oblige producers to indicate the
estimated life of the products they offer, and the manufacturing of
durable products. With this new changes, consumers may have me able
to repair electronical devices easily; and to be able to buy
refurbished products with warranties.
The
measures you can take as a consumer are:
When buying technological devices, check information about the company, their policy about the use of recycled materials, and also other opinions from customers about the quality of the product, if it is durable or not. Some companies are offering information about the labor conditions under they products are produced; you may consider to buy a new phone that has been ethically produced. https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/technology/shopping-guide/mobile-phones
Consider to buy a refurbished product. Nowadays many companies sell refurbished technological devices with the same warranties as new ones. If you are buying a computer or a smartphone for occasional use; you may consider a refurbished one; you will save money and help the environment at the same time.
Repair damaged items. You may consider changing the broken screen of your smartphone instead of buying a new one. With new European regulation; repairing should be easier; and always better for the planet. Manufacturers will have to provide pieces for repairing items.
Give your discarded items a second life. If your computer does not meet your current needs but is still working, some NGOs may give them a second life and allow vulnerable population to have access to technological devices. Before discarding devices that are still in use, consider to make a donation. A never forget to erase all personal data before donating!
Recycle. Technological items can be very polluting if they are not discarded correctly. When you need to dispose of an electronic component, do not throw it in the garbage can. Contact your local authority and find out how electronic and technological garbage is managed in your area. Batteries can be very polluting for aquatic life.
Activity:
True or false
The use of mobile networks on the smartphone is less polluting than WIFI from a cable installation. FALSE
Including less people in copy of emails is a sustainable practice. TRUE.
Buying a new phone is more sustainable than repairing and old one. FALSE.
Questions
for a test.
Choose the incorrect sentence:
Listening music in a video service like YouTube is less polluting than listening to the radio.
Sending links to cooperative tools is more sustainable than attaching documents to emails.
Electronical devices cannot be put into regular garbage cans and should be recycled separately.
The concept programmed obsolescence means that:
Items are designed to last as long as possible.
Items are designed to have a limited life of use.
Items are ethically produced.
Bibliography:
https://www.ericsson.com/en/blog/2020/2/climate-impact-of-digital-technology
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200305-why-your-internet-habits-are-not-as-clean-as-you-think
https://www.natixis.com/natixis/en/real-environmental-impact-of-the-digital-world-rep_99144.html