The E-missions project is investigating the growing digital consumption and its impact on the environment. Most people are unaware of the significant ecological footprint created by being connected and using social media, video calls, email, blockchain, and streaming. An email only becomes tangible when printed, and a streamed series is less tangible than a DVD box. This lack of tangibility is a reason why the consequences of digital behaviour are often overlooked.

The increasing use of the internet has created a growing ecological footprint, which is putting the environment at risk. In just four years, video streaming, video calling, and online gaming have generated 15 times more digital traffic, leading to an exponential increase in energy consumption, server usage, and cable production. If we don’t change our behaviour, the internet could consume 20% of the total global electricity demand in a decade, warns the French think tank The Shift Project. This in a time of climate change, where we are in such need of reducing emissions.

The European Union is working to expand the CO2 trading rights system ETS; a first step was taken in Dec. 2022 with agreeing on a new pricing of CO2 emissions for both companies as individuals. Once this becomes a European law, we all will have to pay for our emissions.

Fortunately, there are simple steps that internet users can take to reduce their online CO2 emissions. Cleaning up emails, minimizing cloud usage, turning off cameras, and switching to lower resolution can contribute to reducing emissions. Or what about rethinking the social media algorithms that currently encourage us to share ever more. However, for digital friendly behaviour to become accepted and mainstream, we need support in digital literacy and digital etiquette.

We created a free online E-missions platform with 10 calculators for digital activities. This platform offers a personal overview of simple measures to reduce CO2 emissions from online activities.

CO2 is an odourless gas and invisible to the human eye. In some exceptions the gas is visible: for example as bubbles in sparkling mineral water or sodas. Sensing CO2 uses the sensation of a fizzy drink: The added CO2 bubbles trigger the tongue receptors while the amount defines the intensity. A minimal increase can quickly change pleasure to discomfort. To become resilient, an understanding of the matter is crucial. Sensing CO2 aims to connect abstract numbers with direct experience, scientific data with human senses.

Based on your personal digital behaviour, the performative installation will enable you to experience different soft drinks, making you taste the different modes of digital, connected communication.

The installation entails 7 flavours linked to your mailbox

• Spam : Emissions 0.3 g / unread e-mail
• Thank You: Emissions 4 g / e-mail
• Confirmation: Emissions 4 g / e-mail
• Attachment: Emissions 50 g / e-mail
• Activity Updates: Emissions 5 g / e-mail
• Newsletter: Emissions 20 g / e-mail
• CC: Emissions 4 g / e-mail

The drinks let your taste buds experience how our behaviour influences CO2 levels and invite you to discuss possible futures , while enjoying your favourite email mix.

The work has been exhibited at:

2021 ■ The Grey Space in The Middle (NL-the Hague)
2022 ■ Sonic Act (NL-Amsterdam)

Jens Gröger (Öko institute, GE) / Yoeran Luteijn

2021 – ongoing

€62.000

This project is supported by SIDNfonds. SIDN fund stands for a strong internet for everyone. The fund supports projects with social added value that contribute to a stronger internet and strong internet users, or that use the internet in an innovative way for our society.

Leanne Wijnsma is also supported by Creative Industries Fund NL to realise the installation. The first test was supported by and took place at The Grey Space in the Middle.