What is Streaming Emissions?
Carbon emissions from video and audio streaming services, including data transmission and device energy use. While individual streaming sessions have small footprints, aggregate emissions are significant.
Why it matters
For media and entertainment businesses, understanding streaming emissions helps quantify digital Scope 3. As user bases grow, the cumulative impact of millions of streaming hours becomes material for corporate carbon reporting.
Example
A video platform estimates that one hour of HD streaming generates approximately 36g CO₂e. With 10 million streaming hours per month, the platform's total streaming-related emissions are around 360 tCO₂e monthly, prompting investment in more efficient video encoding.
Related terms
Digital Carbon Footprint
Carbon emissions from digital activities including data storage, cloud computing, video calls, and email. While individual actions are small, digital emissions can be significant at organisational scale.
Data Centre Emissions
Carbon emissions from facilities that house computer systems, including servers, storage, and networking equipment. Data centres consume significant electricity for computing and cooling.
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