Back to All News
What the Latest Research on Streaming Emissions Tells Us
Emma Stewart, Ph.D.
Netflix Sustainability Officer
Daniel Schien, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science at University of Bristol
Social Impact
29 March 2023
Global
Link copied to clipboard
In 2021, Carbon Trust, one of the world's most trusted think tanks on product carbon footprinting, produced a white paper called Carbon Impacts of Video Streaming. With input from the International Energy Agency, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, University of Bristol, and data from BBC, BT, Ericsson, ITV, NENT, Netflix and Sky, they concluded that the average carbon footprint of streaming one hour of video is significantly lower than some had assumed1, roughly equivalent to three boils of an electric kettle in the UK (more here).
While the Carbon Trust study helped answer the trending question back in 2021, "how much does video streaming impact the environment?" it didn't answer the next logical question, "what should we do about that environmental impact?" That question is of utmost importance to the four industries that contribute to the lifecycle emissions of internet-based services like streaming: 1) data center operators, 2) internet service providers, 3) device manufacturers, and 4) electric utilities. Decarbonizing internet services requires concerted efforts across all four industries, especially device manufacturers, as the Carbon Trust study showed that devices within the home drive almost 90% of emissions2.
To enable evidence-based policymaking, DIMPACT.org worked with its academic advisors Dr. Daniel Schien, Dr. Jonathan Koomey, Jens Malmodin, along with companies including BT, Orange, TalkTalk, BBC, Spotify and Netflix3 to produce a new Literature Review and Policy Principles for Streaming and Digital Media Carbon Footprinting.
Summary of Key Takeaways from DIMPACT's Literature Review1. The energy consumption of data centers and networks is currently about 2-3% of global electricity consumption, driving 0.6% of total GHG emissions. We are committed as a sector to work across the value chain to reduce these emissions because climate change has reached such crisis proportions, and thus calls for an "all-of-society approach" (UN Environment Programme). This will likely be achieved in part through the enabling effect of ICT4 to drive decarbonization of carbon-intensive industries (e.g. smart technologies and control systems to minimize industrial and built environment emissions, real-time load balancing to maximize renewables use on grids, smart mobility and logistics, etc.)
2. Two industries in this value chain are seeing particularly rapid decarbonization due to an intense focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Data centers: The latest research shows that the energy intensity of global data centers has decreased by 20% annually since 2010, a notable improvement compared with recent annual efficiency gains in other major demand sectors (e.g., aviation and industry), which are an order of magnitude lower5.
Internet service providers: ISPs are making significant energy efficiency and decarbonization progress; T-Mobile, Vodafone Europe, and BT Group already operate on 100% renewable energy, and their relative energy consumption per network demand is decreasing6. This decoupling of data traffic demand and energy is already evident to researchers. For example, BT Group's energy consumption ( 90% from network operations) has reduced on average by 1.5% per year over the past five years, despite increases in data traffic7. In France, the French Federation of Telecoms reported a doubling of data traffic between 2015 and 2019 without growth of energy consumption.
3. The latest research shows that governments can help maximize the emissions reductions benefits in the digital sector by focusing on four principles:
Principle 1: Expand access to shared, contemporary data that is no more than 1-2 years old and which does not compromise competitive and proprietary information.
Principle 2: Ensure appropriate modeling for decision making through continued research to avoid oversimplified and biased results.
Principle 3: Institute energy efficiency requirements for devices and infrastructure (TVs, data centers, internet networks, home devices, etc.)
Principle 4: Prioritize broad availability of Low Carbon and Renewable Energy for companies that operate large-scale infrastructure (data centers and internet networks) and for consumers since most streaming emissions come from inside the home.
Looking ahead, Netflix remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint - which stems primarily from the making of film & television (see annual ESG reports here) - and to spurring the value chain of internet-based services at the speed prescribed by climate science.
1 GHG accounting, life cycle analysis, and digital sector modeling, are each complex topics that require deep expertise. 2 Carbon Trust, "Carbon Impact of Video Streaming," 2021 (Table 4, page 52) 3 Thirteen companies plus five leading academics listed in the DIMPACT paper. 4 Analysis by the Climate Group showed that the enabling effects of ICT may outweigh its direct carbon emissions. 5 E. Masanet, A. Shehabi, N. Lei, S. Smith, J. Koomey, Recalibrating global data center energy-use estimates, Science Magazine, 2020 6 BT 2022 blog, T-Mobile 2021 report (p56), Telefonica website and 2022 report. 7 DIMPACT analysis of the ESG Addendum to the BT Group plc Manifesto Report 2022 8 Etude Economique 2021: Les T l coms
North America Stories
19/05/2026
Cisco and the USGA have announced a multiyear extension of their partnership, which began in 2018. Cisco serves as the Official Technology Partner of the USGA, ...
19/05/2026
Urban Edge Network (UEN), a streaming platform for NAIA sports, has announced a partnership with Spiideo to provide streaming and production tools to UEN's ...
19/05/2026
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) will provide live coverage of all 900 Roland-Garros matches across its platforms beginning with qualifiers on May 18. In Europe, 21...
19/05/2026
Tubi, Fox Corporation's free streaming service, has announced the launch of the FIFA World Cup 2026 FOX Hub, a dedicated destination for World Cup programmi...
19/05/2026
Telef nica, in collaboration with Sony, has conducted a 5G connectivity trial at the Movistar Arena in Spain using the 26 GHz millimetre wave (mmWave) band. The...
19/05/2026
Ross Production Services (RPS) has installed a Calrec Argo M console into its new Hypermax-1 remote production truck, replacing one of three Argo S consoles pre...
19/05/2026
Panasonic Projector and Display Corporation has announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares of UK-based media technology company Hive Media Control Ltd. (HI...
19/05/2026
Globecast has announced the completion of a nine-month renovation of its Singapore facility, converting it from a traditional linear broadcast operation into a ...
19/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced a three-year enterprise agreement with Phoenix Broadc...
19/05/2026
Bitmovin has announced that Watch Brasil, a streaming platform operating across Brazil and Europe since 2018, has replaced its legacy systems with Bitmovin'...
19/05/2026
Ateme has announced the migration of Dish Home Nepal's Nepal Premier League (NPL) streaming infrastructure to Ateme's TITAN Live solution deployed on Ak...
19/05/2026
CMSI provided workflow, media management, and HDR support for ESPN during coverage of the NCAA Gymnastics Semifinals and Championships. The company supported fi...
19/05/2026
In advance of this year's Sports Emmy Awards, SVG is taking a deep dive into the six production-technologies nominated for this year's George Wensel Tec...
19/05/2026
In advance of this year's Sports Emmy Awards, SVG is taking a deep dive into the six production-technologies nominated for this year's George Wensel Tec...
19/05/2026
Featuring a fully IP infrastructure, Supershooter 11 is intended for large-scale events. Enabling remote and distributed workflows, Supershooter 65 joins the RE...
19/05/2026
By Jessica Herndon
The line wrapped around the building outside Denver's La...
19/05/2026
When all companies in the market are allowed to compete under the same set of ru...
19/05/2026
Battle-proven technology withstands electronic warfare threats across air, maritime surface and subsea domains....
19/05/2026
WESCAM MX-Series EO/IR systems provide high-precision targeting across domains, including counter-UAS applications...
19/05/2026
Champaign, IL - March 16, 2026 Cobalt Digital, the leading designer and manufa...
19/05/2026
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. April 16, 2026 - Cobalt Digital today announced a partnership ...
19/05/2026
Las Vegas - April 18, 2026 Cobalt Digital, the leading designer and manufactur...
19/05/2026
LAS VEGAS April 18, 2026 - Advanced HDR by Technicolor and Cobalt Digital are ...
19/05/2026
LAS VEGAS - May 4, 2026 - Cobalt Digital, the leading designer and manufacturer of signal processing products, and a founding partner in the openGear initiativ...
19/05/2026
London - 11 May 2026 Cobalt Digital, the leading designer and manufacturer of award-winning signal processing products, and a founding partner in the openGear...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Grass Valley has entered into a three-year enterprise agreement with Phoenix Broadcast Solutions as the Singapore-based company expands its live production oper...
19/05/2026
Clear-Com supported Musikal Perahu Kertas, a large-scale musical theater production in Indonesia adapted from the acclaimed novel by Dee Lestari, through the d...
19/05/2026
Actus Digital, a LiveU company, and a leading provider of intelligent media monitoring and broadcast compliance platforms, announced today that METEO CONSULT ha...
19/05/2026
Globecast, a leading provider of managed services for the broadcast and media industry, today announced the completion of a major renovation of its Singapore fa...
19/05/2026
Following a major upgrade to its Connecticut remote production centre with the installation of three 60-fader Argo S consoles in 2023, RPS has switched one of t...
19/05/2026
PlayBox Technology today announced the launch of Celebro Play, a browser-based media orchestration platform designed specifically for broadcast facilities and p...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/05/2026
LYNX Technik, provider of modular signal processing solutions for broadcast, post, and professional AV will showcase its latest signal processing solutions at B...
19/05/2026
Media Links, a leading developer and manufacturer of IP media transport solutions, has announced the integration of its Xscend platform with Skyline Communicat...
19/05/2026
Collaboration expands regional partner ecosystem as Media Links showcases IP media transport solutions on stand 4M4-4 and alongside Clearcast Asia on stand
Me...
19/05/2026
Company Highlights Labor-Saving Control and Custom Branding Opportunities Designed to Increase Integrator Profitability
LynTec, a leading manufacturer of ele...
19/05/2026
Mago Studio Moves AI Video Beyond Prompts with New Production-Focused Tools
Brie Clayton May 18, 2026
0 Comments
New Capabilities Bring Controllable, ...
19/05/2026
It May be Time to Stop and Take an AI Breather
Brie Clayton May 19, 2026
0 Comments
If the rock you stay on starts to roll, jump clean. Or you'll...
19/05/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils the Trailer for RAFA, the Documentary Series A...
19/05/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Expands Consumer Products Footprint with Strategic Con...
19/05/2026
Matt Derella Expands Leadership Across LinkedIn Ads and Microsoft Advertising Published on May 19, 2026 Categories: Company News
LinkedIn Corporate Commun...
18/05/2026
Despite a bumpy start to the year, the provider of event-production support and ...
18/05/2026
Daktronics has partnered with the University of North Carolina to manufacture and install 11 LED displays totaling more than 10,000 square feet and more than 14...
18/05/2026
CBS LA has announced a multi-year partnership with the Los Angeles Rams, covering exclusive local broadcasts of Rams preseason games, weekly year-round programm...
Back to All News
