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Estimating cross-border cloud computing emissions: A consumption-based approach applied to major European data center
Ian V Soares1, Anna Furberg2, Shoaib Azizi2
1Division of Public Policy (PPOL) - The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Iscience
|June 3, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a consumption-based approach to track cross-border cloud emissions. It reveals how cloud computing
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Computer Science
- Economics
Background:
- Cloud computing expansion significantly increases data center energy consumption and carbon footprint.
- Traditional location-based accounting for cloud emissions can obscure true consumption patterns due to cross-border data flows.
- This methodology addresses the need for more accurate emission tracking in the context of globalized digital infrastructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply a consumption-based accounting method for estimating cross-border cloud emission flows.
- To analyze these flows within the European Union's major data center hubs: Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
- To provide insights for national climate policy and infrastructure planning.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electricity consumption and emissions data for data centers and telecommunications networks (2017-2022).
- Classified cloud computing activities into domestic, export, and import categories based on hosting and consumption locations.
- Applied consumption-based accounting to quantify emission flows between EU countries.
Main Results:
- Germany's cloud footprint is largely domestic (75%).
- Ireland's cloud sector is export-dominated, with 85% of emissions serving foreign consumers.
- The Netherlands shows a balanced distribution of domestic and international cloud emission flows.
Conclusions:
- Consumption-based accounting offers a complementary perspective to territorial accounting for cloud emissions.
- Understanding cross-border emission flows is crucial for effective climate policy and infrastructure decisions in the digital age.
- The findings highlight the need for international cooperation in managing the environmental impact of cloud computing.
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