9th International Conference on ICT for Sustainable Development

Authors - Prakruthi Rajendra, R.K. Sneha, Chahak Jain, Tarun Kumar
Abstract - An important cause of carbon emission that goes unnoticed is that which is released from mass digital consumption. Digital carbon footprints amount to the usage of every device, server, and data centre, and produce an alarming rate of carbon emissions each year. An increase in digitalisation has led to the frequent use of smartphones amongst users, leading to an increase in internet usage and social interactions. This study explores the digital carbon footprints and their slow impact on climate change. Climate change is an advancing problem that is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment, leading to an increase in atmospheric temperatures. The proposed framework helps address gaps in research and limitations of existing products while building awareness of digital carbon footprints. Therefore, the solution is a smartphone application called “Monochrome,” which helps in tracking and monitoring an individual's digital carbon footprint. The application follows sustainable design principles and ethical guidelines. It aims to help reduce overall digital consumption, having a positive impact on the health of individuals and the environment.