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B2B Challenges

Exponential growth digital carbon footprint
2025: critical projections

The digital carbon footprint is growing by 9% per year. By 2025, data centers, generative AI, and video streaming could consume the equivalent of Sweden or Germany. FileVert offers a measured and controlled alternative.

Critical growth

Data center electricity consumption could double by 2026 according to the IEA.

Challenge

The digital carbon footprint grows by 9% per year. Generative AI, data centers and video streaming fuel this growth. Data center electricity consumption could double. FileVert: temporary transfer, optimized infrastructure, renewable energies, impact calculator.

The exponential impact of new digital uses

Generative AI, data centers, and video streaming fuel uncontrolled growth in digital carbon footprint. This growth compromises decarbonization objectives.

9% annual growth

The digital carbon footprint increases by 9% each year, compromising decarbonization objectives

Generative AI ×10

An AI query consumes 10 times more electricity than a standard Google search

Data centers 2026

Expected doubling of data center electricity consumption by 2026 (equivalent to Sweden or Germany)

Streaming 82% traffic

82% of global internet traffic is composed of video, generating 300 million tons of CO₂ per year

Global impact and 2025 projections

Consolidated figures confirm rapid growth in footprint, even though device manufacturing remains the main factor, usage is the driver of global increase.

Key footprint figures (France and World)

4.4%
National Carbon Footprint
Of France's carbon footprint in 2022
78.0%
Main Impact Factor
Share of total digital GHG emissions due to device production (manufacturing)
9%
Annual growth
The annual increase in digital impact is estimated at 9% per year
3-4%
Global footprint 2020
The Shift Project estimates that the global digital footprint was 3 to 4% of global emissions in 2020

The exponential impact of new uses: AI and Data Centers

Generative AI is the most concerning growth factor for energy consumption, placing infrastructure at the center of debates.

×10
AI query consumption
This is what interactions with AIs like ChatGPT could consume compared to a standard Google search
Equivalent Sweden or Germany
Data Centers increase 2026
The increase in electricity consumption from data centers, cryptocurrencies, and AI could reach the equivalent of Sweden or Germany's electricity consumption in 2026
Doubling
Data Centers projection 2026
The IEA forecasts, in a high scenario, a doubling of global electricity consumption related to data centers by 2026
60-70%
Inference phase
Share of new AI models' energy consumption attributable to the inference phase (use), versus 20 to 40% for training

Audiovisual Uses (Streaming and Production)

82%
Global Internet Traffic 2022
Share of global IP traffic on networks that was composed of video traffic in 2022
300 million tons CO₂
Annual global emissions
Emitted by online video per year, or 1% of global GHG emissions or the equivalent of a country like Spain
Up to 20%
Share of digital sector emissions
Video streaming represents up to 20% of global digital emissions
×8
Resolution comparison
Broadcasting content in Ultra High Definition (UHD) generates 8 times more data than High Definition (HD) content
Sources

[1] International Energy Agency (IEA), 2024-2026 projections

[2] The Shift Project, 2020-2022 report on digital carbon footprint

[3] ADEME-Arcep study, Ministries of Ecological Transition and Economy (2020-2022)

[4] Eco-production audiovisual report, April 2024

Measure and reduce your digital carbon impact

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Concrete examples of exponential impact

AI query

ChatGPT vs Google

×10 consumption

Data centers 2026

IEA projection

Doubling consumption

Video streaming

82% internet traffic

300 Mt CO₂/year

FileVert

Measured alternative

Reduced impact

Concrete solutions

Associated FileVert solutions

Concrete features to measure and reduce your digital carbon footprint

Measured Carbon Impact

Carbon footprint estimation calculator with 98.7% reduction vs competitors.

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Immediate Deletion

Scheduled deletion of your files after expiration, ensuring no data remains stored.

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Admin Dashboard

Centralized dashboard for data governance with global activity overview, reports and permission control.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about exponential growth in digital carbon footprint and ecological alternatives

Multiple factors: usage increase (video streaming 82% internet traffic), generative AI explosion (×10 consumption vs standard search), data center growth (doubling expected 2026), multiplication of connected devices. Even though device manufacturing = 78% impact, usage is the driver of global increase. IEA and The Shift Project projections converge on 9% annual.
Different architecture: Google search = pre-calculated index (simple query), generative AI = intensive real-time calculations (175B+ parameter models, inference 60-70% total consumption). Each ChatGPT query requires massive GPU processing vs simple database consultation. Training phase = 20-40% consumption, use phase (inference) = 60-70%.
IEA high scenario projection: doubling global data center electricity consumption by 2026 (vs 2022), equivalent to Sweden or Germany consumption. Factors: generative AI explosion, cryptocurrencies, video streaming, IoT. Even low scenario = +50% minimum. Uncontrolled growth vs decarbonization objectives.
Video dominance: growing resolutions (HD → UHD = ×8 data), passive consumption (autoplay, recommendations), platform multiplication (Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch), maximum quality by default. Impact: 300 million tons CO₂/year (1% global emissions = Spain equivalent). Traffic concentration France: 55% from 4 providers (Netflix, Google, Akamai, Facebook).
Measured approach: temporary 2-15 day storage vs perpetual accumulation, optimized PUE 1.2 vs 1.8 standard infrastructure, 100% renewable energy France vs fossil mix, unique impact calculator for awareness, automatic deletion (no zombie storage). FileVert = concrete alternative to uncontrolled growth, each transfer = measurable digital sobriety act.
Major challenge: 9% annual growth compromises decarbonization objectives if not controlled. The Shift Project: digital could be ecological transition lever (emissions reduced thanks to technologies ×7 vs digital sector emissions), BUT usage increase compromises this advantage. Solution: real digital sobriety (FileVert) + energy efficiency + renewable energies. FileVert = control vs uncontrolled growth.

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