A new study found that six in 10 internet users are not aware that surfing the web generates carbon emissions.
This finding comes from Sharethrough, a global independent advertising platform, which surveyed about 1,000 people over the age of 18 in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.
The findings show 74 per cent of respondents said they are willing to reduce time spent on the internet to counteract their carbon footprint.
According to Sharethrough, 1 million display ad impressions produce "the same amount of carbon emissions as a round trip from Boston to London or 2.4 million plastic straws."
“Environmental sustainability is now top of mind for consumers as they favour brands that are actively working towards it. With this study we wanted to understand consumer knowledge on carbon emissions as a result of their internet habits," said Luc Marsolais, Sharethrough's chief operating officer, in a press release.
"We believe that there is consumer willingness to change their habits for positive impact and this awareness can help facilitate that shift.”
The poll also found that internet users are willing to take action in other ways:
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76% would agree to turn off their internet for two hours a day
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78% would cut down their video streaming habits
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86% would agree to shut down their computer when they’re done using it; and
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85% would agree to clean out their cloud storage more often, with only a little over 40% cleaning out their cloud regularly.
