How planet-friendly are your video calls?

Did you know that when people around the world access the internet, it releases the same level of emissions as air travel – amounting to 3.7% of total emissions? According to Dutch artist Thijs Biersteker in?Dezeen magazine, slashing this type of carbon footprint is tricky because it’s hard for people to visualise the impact of our online actions.

Which is why the artist has created a physical machine that?demonstrates the emissions?resulting from common online activities such as video chatting, emailing, or trading NFTs. It visualises the release of CO2 by producing puffs of gas that enter a spherical terrarium, with a plant housed inside. As the CO2 accumulates, the plant visibly wilts to show the impact we’re having on the earth – it’s as simple as that.

"Sometimes making complex problems smaller and relatable helps us understand the bigger picture again. The further we get removed from seeing the impact we make, the closer we get to the point that we stop caring,” says the artist. Hear, hear.

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Workshop: Going analogue with data visualisation

Put your phones down and close your laptops as we embark on a hands-on analogue journey, where we'll delve into the techniques of drawing out the most compelling stories from data.?Book your place here

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