• The United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released the Digital Economy Report 2024 in July 2024.

• The report details that global digitalization has led to rapid Information and Communications Technology growth. 

• However, the growth comes at the cost of environmental harm, increasing disproportionately across countries.

• Digitization is accompanied by a shift in demand from carbon to minerals like cobalt and graphite, which are deposited in developing countries like Africa. 

• The demand can rise by 500% by the year 2050.

• Wastes related to the digital sector have increased by 30% from 2010 to 2022, reaching 10.5 million tons worldwide.

• Improper waste handling and disposal contribute to the environmental degradation caused by resource extraction and other processes, with developing countries being the most affected.

• The UNCTAD calls for sustainable circular economy models that emphasize the reuse and recycling of e-waste. 

• It advocates for stricter rules and regulations to mitigate environmental footprints. 

• It asks for cooperation between nations on waste management and resource extraction for an equitable digital economy.

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