Global South urges environmental justice as digital technology expands

Digital technologies—including artificial intelligence platforms, smartphones, and large‑scale data centers—are frequently promoted as “clean” innovations that drive economic growth while reducing emissions in other sectors. However, each device relies on a complex network of mineral extraction, electricity consumption, labor inputs and global supply chains, linking the sector to resource‑intensive industries and raising questions about its overall environmental footprint.

Analysts note that the production of essential components such as cobalt, lithium, rare‑earth elements and other minerals involves mining operations that can generate significant ecological disturbance and expose local communities to health risks. The energy demands of data centers, which increasingly draw power from grids with varying carbon intensities, add further emissions to the lifecycle of digital products. These factors intersect with issues of environmental justice and development, prompting calls for more transparent sourcing, lifecycle assessments and policies that address the social and ecological impacts embedded in the digital economy.