Disentangling the worldwide web of e-waste and climate change co-benefits

The benefits of consumer electronic products have transformed every societal sector worldwide. However, the adverse impacts of electronic waste (e-waste) disproportionately affect low-income communities and marginalized ecosystems in nations with economies in transition. The embodied carbon footprint of new electronic products, especially information and communications technology (ICT) devices, is an important source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 67% ± 15% of total lifetime emissions, instigated by mineral mining, manufacturing, and supply chain transportation. We estimate that between 2014 and 2020, embodied GHG emissions from selected e-waste generated from ICT devices increased by 53%, with 580 million metric tons (MMT) of CO₂e emitted in 2020. Without specific interventions, emissions from this source will increase to ∼852 MMT of CO₂e annually by 2030. Increasing the useful lifespan expectancy of electronic devices by 50%–100% can mitigate up to half of the total GHG emissions. Such outcomes will require coordination of eco-design and source reduction, repair, refurbishment, and reuse. These strategies can be a key to efforts towards climate neutrality for the electronics industry, which is currently among the top eight sectors accounting for more than 50% of the global carbon footprint.