Yet as recent research from our team has shown, websites related to climate conferences produce at least 10 times the amount of carbon as typical web pages. Such a concerning finding indicates an urgent need to examine the digital footprint of these websites. After all, they are meant to be the leading advocates for environmental protection on their campuses.
One concrete example from the 2022 report is that the emissions produced by climate conference websites have exploded in recent years. Before COP14 in 2008, these webpages were carbon neutral, at only 0.02 grams of carbon per page view. However, that landscape has changed significantly since then. Emissions have skyrocketed because the internet has grown to become one of the largest drivers of carbon emissions worldwide.
A Historical Perspective on Emissions
The first climate COP, COP3 in 1997, had web page loads with a carbon footprint of 0.14 kg CO2 eq. That’s about the same amount that one mature tree can filter in two days. And now, fast forward to today … At this rate, emissions from COP conference websites have already increased to more than 13,000% between 1995 and 2024.
In fact, just the emissions of visiting COP29’s homepage were already at a jaw-dropping 116.85 kg of carbon. That’s a more than 83,000% increase on past in-person conferences. As a point of reference, consider the impact of ten healthy trees over an entire year. They’d literally need that time to suck up the carbon generated by those trips.
Yet despite hosting COP15, emissions from these websites haven’t just persisted—they’ve increased dramatically since COP15 ended. They have carbon footprints of more than 2.4 grams of carbon per visit. Alarmingly, some of the conference websites are responsible for even more than this average, thus adding to their already significant environmental footprint.
The Broader Implications of Digital Emissions
The results of this study paint an alarming picture about the state of the digital landscape. The internet is responsible for as much as 3% of all global emissions. This reality is all the more reason why we need to rigorously scrutinize the online presence of any websites, particularly those that support positive environmental goals.
Climate conferences are a good place to inspire the movement and conversation towards sustainability and environmental responsibility. Their online platforms are counteracting these efforts all while creating more carbon emissions than some countries. Co-author David Mahoney, a National Institute for Transportation and Communities researcher, noted one key takeaway. He pointed out that sites are the largest and fastest growing sector of the web’s environmental footprint.
This analysis is an important first step. It has assisted us in leveraging web archives to monitor and map the ecological footprint of web-based content as it changes and grows with time. Climate conferences are meant to address the most pressing challenges facing our world. Their digital footprint could be making the issue much worse without their knowledge.
Preparing for COP30 and Beyond
As COP30 nears, researchers are advocating for greater accountability and transparency in the carbon footprints of climate conference websites. This analysis illustrates an urgent demand. Our strategies need to be digital in ways that mirror the sustainability fundamentals that these conferences promote.
We found these emissions have skyrocketed on conference websites over the years. We must move swiftly and decisively to mitigate their environmental harm. Stakeholders involved in organizing these events should prioritize creating low-emission digital platforms that reflect their commitment to combating climate change.