Why sustainable digital research matters
Last updated on 2026-02-24 | Edit this page
Overview
Questions
- What are the “net zero” goals?
- What is digital research?
- Why is minimising “carbon to science” important?
Objectives
- Explain the big picture for reducing carbon emissions
- Explain how that applies to digital research
The context of net zero goals
(For global context, use the Online MUSE calculator)
Climate change and global warming have become pressing issues in recent years. A primary cause of these phenomena is the increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases (for example, carbon dioxide (CO2)) are responsible for trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to rising global temperatures. These gases are emitted from various human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
To combat this, many countries, including the UK have set “net zero” goals. Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and the amount removed from the atmosphere. The way to achieve net zero is by reducing emissions as much as possible and decarbonising activities. The UK plans to reach net zero by 2050.
The role of digital research
Amongst the various sources of greenhouse gas emissions, digital research is one of the contributors. Digital research involves a wide range of activities, including the use of software for data analysis, simulations, machine learning, and the use of cloud computing resources. All these activities often require significant computational power and energy consumption, which can lead to substantial carbon emissions.
- any number on how much digital research contributes to global emissions?
Minimising carbon to science
Digital research is important for scientific progress and has the potential to contribute to solving many of the global challenges, including climate change. However, it is necessary to ensure that the carbon emissions associated with digital research are minimised. As researchers, we have a responsibility to consider the environmental impact of our work and take steps to reduce it.
In the following episodes, we will explore how to measure and estimate the carbon emissions from digital research activities, what are the sources of these emissions, and what are some ways to reduce them.
Once upon a time, in a research intensive university…
TBC - Eye-opening scenario on producing carbon in digital research