Digital Communications

Footprints on the path: how routing data could reduce the internet's carbon toll

The internet's environmental cost is rising – but selecting the right data paths could make a difference

The internet's environmental cost is rising – but selecting the right data paths could make a difference Image: Jason Leung/Unsplash

Simon Scherrer
PhD candidate, ETH Zurich
Markus Legner
Postdoctoral Researcher, ETH Zurich
Tobias Schmidt
Professor of Energy Politics, ETH Zurich
Adrian Perrig
Professor of Network Security, ETH Zurich
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The emissions toll of sending data by a particular route shifts according to certain conditions
The emissions toll of sending data by a particular route shifts according to certain conditions Image: Simon Scherrer

Internet path selection will economically incentivize ISPs to go green
Internet path selection will economically incentivize ISPs to go green Image: Simon Scherrer/Shancong Yu

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Related topics:
Digital CommunicationsInternet GovernanceClimate ChangeFourth Industrial Revolution
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