AQA 8525 · Section 3.7 · Impact of Technology

Environmental
Impacts

Energy Consumption · E-waste · Carbon Footprint · Positive Uses of Tech

CSZoneAQA GCSE Computer Science 8525

Negative Environmental Impacts

The Hidden Cost of Technology

Energy consumption — data centres consume ~1% of global electricity. Cryptocurrency mining consumes more electricity than many countries. Devices require constant charging.

Carbon footprint — most electricity still generated from fossil fuels. Manufacturing chips and devices emits CO₂. International shipping of devices.

E-waste (electronic waste) — old phones, laptops, and computers disposed of improperly. Contains toxic materials (lead, mercury). Rarely fully recycled. Growing global problem.

Rare earth minerals — mining for lithium, cobalt, and rare metals damages ecosystems and often involves poor labour conditions

Positive Environmental Uses of Technology

Technology as Part of the Solution

Smart grids — AI optimises electricity distribution, reducing waste. Integrates renewable energy sources.

Remote working / video calls — reduces commuting and business travel, cutting transport emissions

Paperless systems — digital documents reduce deforestation

Environmental monitoring — satellites, sensors, and AI track climate change, deforestation, and pollution in real time

Electric vehicles — software-managed batteries and autonomous features improve efficiency

Reducing Tech's Environmental Impact

What Can Be Done?

Renewable energy: large tech companies (Google, Microsoft, Amazon) pledge to power data centres with 100% renewable energy

Longer device lifespans: using phones/laptops longer reduces manufacturing emissions. Right-to-repair movement.

Responsible e-waste disposal: recycling programmes extract valuable materials and prevent toxic chemicals entering landfill

Exam Practice

Have a go at this question

AQA-style question

Describe one negative environmental impact of the increasing use of technology and one way this impact could be reduced.

2 marks

Impact: data centres and devices consume large amounts of electricity, much of which is generated from fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions [1]. Reduction: data centres could switch to renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power to reduce their carbon footprint [1].

Key Takeaways

What to Remember

Negatives: energy consumption, carbon footprint, e-waste, rare mineral mining

Positives: smart grids, remote work, environmental monitoring, paperless systems

E-waste = toxic electronic waste in landfill — a growing global problem

Solutions: renewable energy, longer device lifespans, responsible recycling