The Environmental Impact of Digital Streaming and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

The expansion of digital services, exemplified by Spotify’s growth to 675 million active users and its venture into video streaming, presents significant challenges to global environmental sustainability. This growth trajectory directly impacts the carbon footprint of the digital sector, necessitating an urgent evaluation of industry practices and consumer behaviour in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Analysis of Carbon Emissions and Corporate Accountability

Carbon Footprint of Video Streaming

The transition from audio to video streaming marks a substantial increase in energy consumption and associated carbon emissions. An analysis by The Carbon Trust quantifies the environmental cost, highlighting a critical issue for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), which calls for sustainable industrialisation.

• The European average carbon footprint for one hour of video streaming is 55g of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e).
• This emission level is approximately 50 times greater than that of audio streaming.
• Innovations such as AI-powered, personalised in-video advertisements and high-resolution streaming further intensify the processing power required, scaling up the environmental footprint.

Corporate Transparency and SDG 12

A significant barrier to addressing the environmental impact of streaming is a lack of corporate transparency. Spotify has not published complete environmental cost data since 2021. This practice runs counter to the principles of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), which requires corporations to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycles. The absence of corporate accountability shifts the burden of responsibility onto consumers and content creators to make environmentally informed choices.

Geopolitical and Infrastructural Factors in Climate Action

Impact of National Energy Grids on Emissions (SDG 7)

The carbon footprint of streaming is not uniform globally; it is heavily dependent on the energy mix of a given country, a factor central to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). The reliance on fossil fuels versus renewable or low-carbon sources creates significant disparities in emissions per hour of streaming.

• Germany: 76g CO₂e per hour, reflecting a continued reliance on coal and fossil fuels.
• United Kingdom: 48g CO₂e per hour, due to an energy mix that includes renewables, natural gas, and nuclear power.
• France: 10g CO₂e per hour, attributed to a high dependency on nuclear energy.

The Imperative for Global Partnerships (SDG 13 & SDG 17)

Achieving net-zero emissions is impossible without the firm commitment of major technology companies. This aligns with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and underscores the importance of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The effectiveness of global climate agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, is contingent upon ratification and commitment from all nations, including those that are home to major technology corporations.

Strategies for Responsible Digital Consumption

Advocating for Digital Sobriety

To mitigate the environmental impact of digital technologies, organisations like the Shift Project advocate for “digital sobriety”—a mindful and efficient use of digital tools. This approach directly supports the objectives of SDG 12. While aimless streaming should be curtailed, as video decoding can account for up to 50% of playback energy on user devices, the cultural value of video in promoting marginalised voices and addressing social issues must also be acknowledged.

Recommendations for End-User Responsibility

End-users can play a crucial role in reducing the carbon footprint of digital media by adopting more sustainable consumption habits. The following actions can contribute to achieving the targets of SDG 12 and SDG 13:

1. Prioritise Wi-Fi: Use Wi-Fi networks for streaming instead of more energy-intensive 4G or 5G mobile networks.
2. Utilise Local Storage: For frequently accessed content, purchase and download files to play from local storage rather than streaming repeatedly from the cloud.
3. Adjust Streaming Settings: Reduce streaming resolution, disable auto-play features, and avoid using streaming services as sleep aids to minimise unnecessary data consumption.
4. Limit Video Usage in Calls: Turn off cameras during video calls when not essential, as audio-only communication generates significantly lower carbon emissions.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• The article connects the carbon footprint of video streaming directly to a country’s energy source. It contrasts Germany’s high emissions (76g CO₂e per hour) due to its “reliance on coal and fossil fuels” with the lower emissions in the UK and France, which use more renewables, natural gas, and nuclear power. This highlights the critical role of clean energy in mitigating the environmental impact of digital technologies.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• The article discusses the technological innovations in the music industry, such as Spotify’s expansion into video streaming and the use of AI for advertisements. It examines the infrastructure that supports this, like Wi-Fi, 4G, and 5G networks, and how choices related to this infrastructure (e.g., using Wi-Fi over 5G) impact sustainability. The core issue is how industrial and technological advancements can be made more sustainable.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• This goal is central to the article. It calls for “digital sobriety” and encourages consumers (end users) to make “better informed choices” about their streaming habits, such as reducing resolution and avoiding aimless streaming. On the production side, it criticizes companies like Spotify for a lack of transparency (“reports have been incomplete since 2021”) and calls for them to take “absolute burden of responsibility… to reduce their carbon emissions.”

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The entire article is framed around climate action. It quantifies the “environmental footprint” of streaming in terms of “CO₂e or carbon dioxide equivalent” and discusses its contribution to climate change. It references major global climate agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, emphasizing the need for commitments from both governments and major technology companies to achieve net-zero goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

1. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The article implicitly supports this target by demonstrating that a country’s energy mix is a key determinant of its streaming-related carbon emissions. It praises the UK for including “renewables and natural gas” and France for its “reliance on nuclear” as low-carbon sources, which result in a lower carbon footprint for streaming compared to Germany’s fossil fuel-dependent grid.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and processes.
   • The article addresses this by discussing the energy efficiency of streaming technologies. It notes that “video decoding can account for 35-50% of playback energy on user devices” and suggests using more efficient infrastructure like Wi-Fi over cellular data. This points to the need for more sustainable digital infrastructure and industrial practices within the tech sector.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

1. Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
   • The article directly addresses this by stating, “while Spotify used to publish data on its environmental costs, its reports have been incomplete since 2021.” It further notes that “many tech companies lack environmental accountability” and that there is an “absolute burden of responsibility on tech and media companies to reduce their carbon emissions and to be transparent about their efforts to do so.”
2. Target 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
   • The article is an example of fulfilling this target. It aims to inform readers about the environmental impact of their digital habits and provides specific, actionable advice for “eco-conscious music streaming.” It calls for users to make “better informed choices” and adopt “digital sobriety” by reducing streaming quality, using Wi-Fi, and turning off auto-play.

SDG 13: Climate Action

1. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • The article references the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement as “significant global efforts to combat climate change” that require national commitments. It criticizes the US government for not ratifying one and withdrawing from the other, highlighting the importance of integrating climate action into national policy.
2. Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
   • The article serves as an educational tool to raise awareness among consumers about the “growing mountain of digital waste” and the carbon footprint of their streaming activities. By explaining the impact and suggesting mitigation strategies, it works to improve the capacity of individuals to reduce their personal environmental footprint.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 7 & 9 (Targets 7.2 & 9.4)

• Carbon footprint of video streaming (g CO₂e per hour): The article provides this specific metric to measure the environmental impact of streaming, which is directly influenced by the energy efficiency of infrastructure and the cleanliness of the energy grid. It gives concrete figures: European average (55g), Germany (76g), UK (48g), and France (10g).
• Share of energy from different sources: The article implies this indicator by linking carbon footprints to a country’s “reliance on coal and fossil fuels” versus its use of “renewables and natural gas” and “nuclear” power.

Indicators for SDG 12 (Targets 12.6 & 12.8)

• Corporate environmental reporting: The article implies this as a key indicator of corporate accountability. The statement that Spotify’s “reports have been incomplete since 2021” serves as a negative indicator of progress toward Target 12.6.
• Adoption of sustainable consumer behaviors: The article suggests several measurable actions for users, which can serve as indicators of progress toward Target 12.8. These include:
  • Use of Wi-Fi vs. 4G/5G for streaming.
  • Rate of purchasing downloads vs. repeated streaming.
  • Use of localized storage vs. cloud-based systems.
  • Changes in default settings (e.g., auto-play disabled, lower default resolution).

Indicators for SDG 13 (Targets 13.2 & 13.3)

• Ratification and participation in international climate agreements: The article uses a country’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement as an indicator of its integration of climate change measures into national policy.
• Reduction in carbon emissions from specific actions: The article provides a quantifiable example of an indicator for awareness-driven change: “the UK could reduce its carbon output by more 16,433 tonnes if each adult sent one less thank you email a day.” This same logic can be applied to measure the impact of changed streaming habits.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theconversation.com