The analysis forms part of a wider USD 10.1 trillion business opportunity associated with the adoption of nature-positive solutions across the private sector.
More than half of the potential value relates to upstream activities in energy and extractives, including renewable power expansion, improved resource recovery and circular manufacturing of electronics and appliances. The findings are presented in the report Nature Positive: Role of the Technology Sector, developed with Oliver Wyman.
Around one third of the identified value is linked to infrastructure and the built environment, including energy-efficient buildings, smart metering, wastewater reuse and sustainable construction. The remainder is associated with nature restoration, sustainable land use and cross-sector energy-efficiency opportunities enabled by digital technology.
The report notes that sector growth is driven by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, demand for high-performance electronics and emerging technologies such as quantum computing. It estimates that this growth results in increased water use, pollution and waste, greenhouse gas emissions and land use pressures.
According to the analysis, more than one trillion chips are sold annually for consumer and industrial applications. Over 11,000 data centres are in operation globally, with demand expected to increase by 19-22% annually until 2030. Semiconductor production uses more than one trillion litres of water each year and relies on metals and critical minerals. Data centres consume more than 60 gigawatts of power globally. Hardware production generates more than 60 billion kilogrammes of electronic waste annually, with less than 25% currently recycled.
The report states that constraints on natural resources affect operational efficiency and business resilience. Recommended measures include circular resource recovery and cooperation along mining and minerals supply chains.
Infrastructure expansion, especially new data centres, has resulted in increased scrutiny from local authorities and communities. The report links improved environmental performance with regulatory acceptance, reduced exposure to environmental risks and alignment with customer and investor expectations.
Seven areas for action are identified: water use, pollution and waste, land use, greenhouse gas emissions, power demand, supply chain practices and policy engagement. The report notes that planning for nature-related risks may reduce disruption from extreme weather events, market shifts and changes in policy, while reducing exposure related to ecosystem services such as access to clean water.
The technology sector currently accounts for around 4% of global energy use. Measures cited in the report include scaling renewable power, improving energy and water efficiency, circular manufacturing and expanded recycling. Examples include the use of liquid cooling in data centres and circular material recovery initiatives that significantly reduce emissions compared with the use of primary raw materials.
