Cambridge 9618 · International A Level Computer Science · ~12 min read
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Why Does Computing Have Environmental Impacts?
Technology has transformed society but carries significant environmental costs at every stage: manufacturing, use, and disposal. As computing becomes more pervasive — AI, cloud services, streaming, cryptocurrency — these impacts are growing rapidly.
⚡ Energy Consumption
Data centres consume ~1–2% of global electricity
AI training requires enormous computational power
Cryptocurrency mining uses massive energy for proof-of-work
Cooling systems account for a large share of data centre energy
Billions of personal devices use electricity 24/7
🗑️ E-Waste
Fastest growing waste stream globally
Contains lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic — toxic to soil and water
Less than 20% of global e-waste is formally recycled
Informal recycling in developing countries causes health risks
Short product lifecycles drive frequent device replacement
Cloud computing powered by fossil fuels contributes
Expected to grow as AI and streaming demand increases
⛏️ Resource Depletion
Rare earth metals (neodymium, lithium, cobalt) needed for devices
Mining causes habitat destruction and water pollution
Limited global reserves of some materials
Water used for cooling data centres and chip manufacturing
E-Waste in Detail
Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to discarded electrical and electronic equipment. Key characteristics:
Volume: approximately 53–57 million tonnes generated globally per year
Toxic content: circuit boards contain lead and mercury; LCD screens contain mercury; batteries contain cadmium and lithium
Leaching: toxic materials leach into soil and groundwater when devices are dumped in landfill
Informal recycling: in some developing countries, e-waste is manually dismantled in unsafe conditions, exposing workers to toxic fumes
Energy and Data Centres
A single large data centre can consume as much electricity as a small city. Key factors:
Server operation: thousands of servers running continuously draw enormous power
Cooling: processors generate heat — cooling systems (air conditioning, liquid cooling) can equal the power used by the servers themselves
PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness): a metric for data centre efficiency. PUE = total facility energy ÷ IT equipment energy. Ideal PUE = 1.0; typical = 1.5–2.0
AI training runs: training large AI models can emit as much CO₂ as several transatlantic flights
The Carbon Footprint of Computing
The lifecycle carbon footprint of a device includes:
Manufacture: highest single impact — silicon chip production requires energy-intensive processes and rare materials
Use phase: electricity consumption over the device's lifetime
Transport: global supply chains for components and finished devices
Disposal: some recycling processes emit pollutants; improper disposal releases toxins
Reducing Environmental Impact
🌱 Individual Actions
Extend device lifespan — repair instead of replace
Turn off or hibernate devices when not in use
Use energy-efficient settings and power management
Recycle devices through certified e-waste recyclers or manufacturer take-back schemes
Choose refurbished or second-hand electronics
🏢 Organisational Actions
Power data centres with renewable energy (solar, wind)
Improve cooling efficiency (liquid cooling, free air cooling in cold climates)
Virtualisation — running multiple virtual servers on one physical server reduces hardware needed
Cloud computing — economies of scale make large providers more energy-efficient per user
Sustainable procurement — choose suppliers with green credentials
Implement e-waste recycling programmes
🏛️ Policy and Regulation
Energy efficiency standards for devices (e.g., EU Energy Star regulations)
Extended Producer Responsibility — manufacturers must fund disposal of their products
Right to Repair legislation — making it easier and cheaper to repair rather than discard
Carbon taxes that incentivise reduced emissions
Positive Environmental Contributions
Computing also helps reduce environmental impact in other sectors:
Smart energy grids: AI optimises electricity distribution and integrates renewable sources
Remote working: reduces commuting and business travel emissions
Precision agriculture: sensors and AI reduce pesticide and water use
Paperless processes: digital documents reduce paper consumption
Exam tip: Cambridge 9618 may ask you to evaluate whether computing helps or harms the environment — always present both sides. State specific impacts (energy consumption, e-waste, carbon footprint, resource depletion) and specific mitigations. Use precise language: "e-waste contains toxic materials including lead and mercury" rather than just "e-waste is bad."
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Saying "computers use electricity" without specifics — be more precise: mention data centres, cooling systems, or AI training workloads
Treating e-waste as only a local issue — e-waste is a global problem, with large amounts shipped from developed to developing countries
Saying all digital activities are good for the environment because they replace paper — digital processes also consume energy and the net impact depends on usage patterns
Ignoring manufacturing — the highest carbon footprint of a device is usually in its manufacturing phase, not its use phase
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Worksheet — 1.6.3 Environmental Impacts of Computing
6 questions · instantly marked · Cambridge 9618 standard
Q1Identify three ways in which computing contributes to environmental harm.[3]
✅ Mark scheme
Any three: energy consumption of data centres and devices [1]; e-waste — toxic materials in discarded electronics contaminating soil/water [1]; carbon footprint from manufacturing devices [1]; resource depletion — rare earth metals mined for components [1]; water used for cooling and manufacturing [1].
Q2Explain what is meant by e-waste and why it poses an environmental risk.[3]
✅ Mark scheme
E-waste is discarded electronic equipment (old phones, computers, TVs, etc.) [1]; electronic devices contain toxic materials including lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic [1]; when disposed of in landfill these toxins leach into soil and groundwater, polluting the environment and posing health risks [1].
Q3A large company is setting up a new data centre. Describe two measures it could take to reduce the environmental impact of running the data centre.[4]
✅ Mark scheme
Any two: power the data centre using renewable energy sources (solar, wind) — reduces carbon emissions from electricity generation [1+1]; use efficient cooling systems (liquid cooling, locating in cold climates for free air cooling) — reduces energy needed for temperature management [1+1]; virtualisation — run multiple virtual servers on fewer physical machines — reduces total hardware and energy needed [1+1].
Q4Why is the manufacturing phase of a device's lifecycle often considered to have the greatest environmental impact?[2]
✅ Mark scheme
Manufacturing requires energy-intensive processes including chip fabrication (requires ultra-pure conditions and chemicals) [1]; rare materials must be mined (causing habitat destruction), purified and transported globally, all generating significant emissions [1].
Q5Give two ways in which computing can REDUCE environmental impact in other sectors.[2]
✅ Mark scheme
Any two: smart electricity grids optimised by AI reduce waste in energy distribution [1]; remote working/video conferencing reduces commuting and business travel emissions [1]; precision agriculture uses sensors to reduce pesticide and water use [1]; paperless offices reduce paper consumption [1].
Q6Evaluate whether "moving to the cloud" is environmentally beneficial for a business. Include both arguments for and against.[4]
✅ Mark scheme
For: large cloud providers achieve economies of scale — more efficient use of hardware than many small on-site servers [1]; major providers (AWS, Google, Azure) increasingly powered by renewable energy [1]; Against: still requires energy-intensive data centres [1]; transferring data over the internet uses network energy; if the cloud provider uses fossil fuels there may be no benefit or even a net increase [1]. (Award 2 marks each side for balanced evaluation.)
Q7A company is replacing 500 desktop computers with newer models. Describe three distinct environmental impacts of this replacement cycle and for each suggest one specific action the company can take to mitigate that impact.[6]
✅ Mark scheme
Impact 1: e-waste — old computers contain hazardous materials (lead, mercury) that pollute landfill — action: use certified e-waste recycler / donate working units to charities — 1+1 mark; Impact 2: energy consumption of manufacturing new computers requires significant raw materials and energy — action: extend lifecycle by choosing computers with manufacturer sustainability certifications — 1+1 mark; Impact 3: energy use of running 500 PCs over their lifetime — action: choose Energy Star-rated machines or switch to thin clients reducing per-machine power draw — 1+1 mark.
Q8Explain what is meant by a 'green data centre'. State two specific design features that make a data centre more energy efficient and explain how each feature reduces energy consumption or environmental impact.[5]
✅ Mark scheme
Green data centre: a facility designed to minimise energy consumption and environmental impact while maximising efficiency in cooling, power, and hardware use — 1 mark; Feature 1: hot/cold aisle containment — separates hot exhaust air from cold intake air, reducing the energy needed to cool servers — 1 mark; Feature 2: free cooling (using outside air or water from natural sources) — reduces reliance on energy-intensive air conditioning systems — 1 mark; Feature 3: server virtualisation — runs multiple virtual machines on fewer physical servers, reducing the total hardware and power required — 1 mark; additional valid feature — 1 mark.
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Mini Test — 1.6.3 Environmental Impacts
10 questions · 10 marks · 10 minutes
⏱ 10:00
Section A — Multiple Choice [5 marks]
Q1What does e-waste primarily refer to?
Q2Which toxic material is commonly found in circuit boards and poses a risk when disposed of in landfill?
Q3Which metric measures a data centre's energy efficiency?
Q4Which lifecycle phase typically produces the highest carbon footprint for a smartphone?
Q5Virtualisation in data centres reduces environmental impact by:
Section B — Short Answer [5 marks]
Q6Explain two reasons why informal e-waste recycling in developing countries is harmful.
Mark schemeWorkers are exposed to toxic fumes and substances (lead, mercury) during manual dismantling without safety equipment [1]; toxic materials released into the local environment (soil, water, air) harming local communities [1].
Q7Give two actions an individual can take to reduce the environmental impact of their computing devices.
Mark schemeAny two: extend device lifespan by repairing rather than replacing [1]; recycle old devices through certified e-waste recyclers [1]; use energy-efficient settings / hibernate when not in use [1]; buy refurbished rather than new devices [1].
Q8Describe one way AI or computing can REDUCE environmental harm in another sector.
Mark schemeSmart energy grids: AI algorithms optimise electricity distribution and integrate renewable sources, reducing waste [1]. Also accept: precision agriculture reduces pesticide/water use; remote working reduces transport emissions; climate modelling improves environmental science.
Q9What is meant by "rare earth metals" in the context of computing, and what environmental issue does their extraction cause?
Mark schemeRare earth metals (e.g., neodymium, cobalt, lithium) are materials needed for electronic components, batteries, and displays in computing devices [1]; mining these materials causes habitat destruction, water pollution, and often involves unsafe labour conditions [1].
Q10Explain why data centre cooling systems have a significant environmental impact.
Mark schemeServers generate large amounts of heat during operation [1]; cooling systems (air conditioning, liquid cooling) may consume as much energy as the servers themselves, significantly increasing total energy use and carbon emissions [1].