The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) highlights rapid growth in the digital economy, with smartphone shipments exceeding 1.2 billion in 2023 and IoT devices expected to reach 39 billion by 2029. E-commerce surged to $27 trillion from 2016 to 2022. However, this growth is straining environmental resources, with digital waste escalating and greenhouse gas emissions from device production being significant.
Governments’ need to address these environmental impacts by fostering sustainable digital practices and managing electronic waste. Digital advancements must be balanced with strategies to mitigate ecological damage, especially in developing countries crucial to the supply chain for transition minerals.
