Cloud Storage

The pollution caused by data centres comes mainly from their continuous need for electricity as they operate 24/7. As they process the constant flow of data, data centres also generate colossal streams of heat that need to be abated to prevent the equipment from malfunctioning. Data centres therefore require massive cooling systems (either from air conditioning or water cooling) which are additional sources of negative environmental impact that need to be considered when tackling the issue of data storage.

Big data companies such Amazon, Google, or Facebook have already advertised about their modern data centres which are meant to help them reach their carbon-neutral objectives. While these infrastructures indeed greatly reduce their impact on the environment, Monserrate (2022) points out that the larger issue relies on smaller-scale data centres which are numerous and often located in old infrastructures, not optimised for cooling, and data storage capacity needs.

The current impact and estimated exponential growth of cloud storage is a challenge that has to be tackled through a multi-level response. There is a wide range of simple measures that can be implemented to efficiently reduce data storage pollution and it is up to both professionals and organisations to implement it effectively in daily practice. It is also worth mentioning that reducing overall individual and organisational data storage within a whole organisation will also greatly reduce economic costs while making a significant contribution to the green digital transition.