Carbon footprint of cloud, edge, and Internet of Edges

Abstract

In this article, we highlight the carbon footprint of data transport on Internet infrastructures by bringing together a series of studies that break down the carbon impact of digital technologies and detail the geography and routing of the Internet. The article also draws a comparison between three types of digital infrastructure where digital services are hosted either in the cloud, at the edge, or in an Internet of Edges. This comparison emphasizes the advantages of establishing shorter data routes to reduce the carbon footprint of digital communications.