The CONNECT University session on "Green ICT" presented talks from thought leaders in the field discussing the energy consumption and environmental impact of the ICT infrastructure, highlighting the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Perhaps many of the half a billion EU citizens are unaware how much their everyday economic and social wellbeing depends on reliable, secure and efficient data centres and the services they provide. Data centres are facilities that provide the connectivity hubs, power distribution, operational environment and physical security for most of the equipment needed to support our digital age.

Yet, we are entering a new era of digital activity. An explosive growth in data fuelled by more affordable storage systems and the proliferation of paradigms such as Internet of Things, Cloud, and Smart Cities, paired with better connectivity (with 5G on the way) is making the digitalisation of our economy move at an unprecedented pace.

But what about the energy consumption of the internet? Could the ICT Infrastructure be costing us the Earth?