Data on sustainable digitalisation

On behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, this study has inventoried which data and databases are available in relation to the use of raw materials and emissions in the digital sector. This study represents a first step towards establishing a dashboard to monitor the progress of sustainable digitisation.

Data Sources

In this study, the following data sources have been identified per emission scope:

• Scope 1: Given the delineation used, end-user equipment has no relevant scope 1 emissions. Networks and data centres do have them, but the scope 1 emissions are so limited that they are also left out of consideration. Water usage of data centres is very limited compared to total water usage in the Netherlands, but due to policy relevance, it has been included in this study. It can be measured using the EED reports.
• Scope 2: In general, no data source appears to be available that provides an integrated overview of scope 2 emissions from end-user equipment. CBS and ACM data are important sources for end-user equipment, which need to be supplemented with further literature research. Coverage depends on the available data and estimates. Calculations will need to be made based on assumptions and estimates from available data sources. For networks, there are various data sources available, ranging from annual reports, ACM data, GSMA, and data from individual companies. Although the quality of, for example, ACM data is high, not all data is available for the Netherlands (raising doubts about representativeness). For fixed networks, the large variation in equipment and consumption plays a role, and reliability depends on literature and benchmarks. Data centres are better covered thanks to mandatory EED reports. More than 90 percent of data centres are required to report, but data disclosure may be limited. EU ETS data are of high quality but only cover large and energy-intensive installations, thus not giving a complete picture of the sector.
• Scope 3: Broadly speaking, two approaches can be distinguished:
  • A top-down approach, where emissions are broken down at a macro level to determine the carbon footprint of the digital sector. Using input-output analysis based on national and international statistics (IPCC data, trade flows, sectoral CO2 intensities), the emissions attributable to the digital sector are determined at an aggregated level.
  • In a bottom-up approach (collecting sustainability reports via the CSRD), the focus is instead on individual companies - gathering individual scope 1, 2, and 3 figures. These are then aggregated and added together to collectively represent the total carbon footprint of the digital sector.

With the current knowledge and the overview of available data sources created in this study, a sustainable digitisation dashboard is feasible. However, an initial version of a dashboard should not aim to provide a complete picture from the outset. There are currently too many gaps and unanswered questions for that.