A low-carbon future for China’s tech industry | Science

The information and communications technology (ICT) industry, which includes telephone and computer networks and devices, has the potential to reduce emissions and increase efficiency in other industries by using internet platforms to connect equipment, production lines, factories, suppliers, products, and customers (1). The ICT industry is expected to help reduce global carbon emissions by 20% by 2030 (2). However, the industry’s own carbon emissions could undermine its positive contributions. Although carbon emissions produced by the ICT industry accounted for only about 1% of total global carbon emissions in 2007, without interventions, the number could reach 14% by 2040 (3). In China, where the ICT industry is growing rapidly (4), the government must ensure an environmentally responsible transition.