29. Green ICT: A Practice for Balancing Technological Growth with Environmental Sustainability

Tanmoy Dey
Assistant Professor in Computer Science
Vivekananda Mahavidyalaya, Hooghly, West Bengal, India
Email: tanmoydey.vm@gmail.com

Abstract: The widespread growth of information and communication technology (ICT) has fundamentally shaped global economies and societies, which serve as a catalyst for innovation and efficiency. However, this rapid technical expansion comes with an important environmental cost, including increasing energy consumption, an increase in carbon emissions, and an e-waste crisis. This paper explores the concept of green ICT as an important structure to reduce these negative externalities. It examines the dual role of ICT both as a source of environmental problems and a powerful tool for sustainability solutions. Through a systematic review of existing literature, this research analyses the core pillars of Green ICT, including energy-efficient data centres, sustainable hardware design, responsible e-waste management, and green software engineering. The paper further identifies primary challenges like economic, technical and policy-related to adoption and examines adequate opportunities for innovation, cost savings and increased corporate responsibility. The findings suggest that integrating Green ICT practices is not merely an environmental imperative but a strategic necessity for long-term, sustainable technological development. The paper concludes with targeted recommendations for policymakers, businesses, and consumers to promote a collaborative transition to a greener digital future, ensuring that technological progress and environmental administration can advance in harmony.

Keywords: Green ICT; energy-efficient data centres; sustainable software; carbon-aware computing; lifecycle assessment; energy metrics.