Believe it or not, the internet leaves a mark on the planet, not just in our browser history. The internet leaves a carbon footprint.
The digital industry is now responsible for between 2-5% of global emissions, more than that of the aviation industry.
Between 2015 and 2021, internet visitors increased by 60%, whilst internet traffic increased by 440%.
In essence, if the Internet were a country, it would be one of the top five polluters.
Every click, scroll, and video stream uses energy, and that energy often comes with a side of greenhouse gas emissions. The bigger the carbon footprint, the greater the contribution to climate change. The goal is to shrink that footprint by making choices that are better for the planet.
That's where accessibility and sustainability best practices in web development come in. When we build smarter, faster, and more inclusive websites, we're not just improving the user experience. We're optimizing our websites to reduce digital pollution and shrink that carbon footprint.
Let's start by examining some of the reasons websites have a carbon footprint and then explore what we can do to begin shrinking it.
Environmental Costs of the Web
Server Load & Data Transfer
Service load refers to how hard a server, network, and browser have to work to display your website. Some of the factors that affect server load include file size (such as images, scripts, fonts, and videos), the number of HTTP requests, and third-party services like tracking scripts and social widgets. The larger the server load, the harder it has to work and the more energy it consumes.
Every time you visit a website, data has to travel from a server, network, and browser to your device. That journey uses energy through networks, cables, and data centers. Much of that energy still comes from burning fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, and natural gas. When we burn those fuels, they release carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases into the air, trapping heat and driving climate change.
Bloated Pages
Bloated pages are jam-packed with oversized images, too many scripts, unnecessary fonts, and extra code. All of that adds weight, which means more data must travel from servers, networks, and browsers to devices, consuming more energy at every step.
Carbon Emissions From Hosting
Carbon emissions from hosting are a significant factor in your site’s environmental impact. Carbon emissions from web hosting come from the electricity needed to power the servers, data centers, and network infrastructure that keep websites online. Unfortunately, most data centers are still powered by electricity, and in many places, that electricity continues to come from fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. Burning fossil fuels = carbon emissions = contributing to climate change.
How to Start Shrinking the Carbon Footprint
Digital accessibility and website sustainability are a surprisingly green intersection!
Interestingly, when working on Web accessibility, one finds frequently that some practices result in reducing the size of pages, or the amount of data transferred to the user. Furthermore, an accessible Web site is generally simpler and therefore faster to view, not only for users with disabilities.
Although the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) weren’t specifically designed to address carbon emissions, many of its success criteria naturally support lowering a website’s carbon footprint.
Here are a few WCAG success criteria that serve dual purposes—boosting accessibility and reducing your site's carbon footprint. This list is in no way exhaustive.
2.4.6 Headings and Labels (Level AA)
The use of clear, descriptive headings and labels helps users understand what’s going on and navigate easily. That results in faster user interactions, which in turn means less data transfer, ultimately leading to reduced energy consumption. For screen reader users, descriptive headings facilitate faster and smoother navigation, reducing the amount of processing time and battery usage on user devices.
1.4.5 Images of Text (AA)
Avoiding text baked into images means cleaner, smaller files—and scalable, screen-friendly content that doesn't require bloated image assets to render basic information.
2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (A)
Allowing users to skip repetitive content reduces navigation time and page loads, particularly for users who rely on assistive technology. Faster journeys = lower energy use per session.
1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence (Level A)
This success criterion ensures that content is presented in a logical order, allowing screen readers and other assistive technologies to read it in a clear and understandable flow.
When coding for meaningful sequence and structure, developers tend to use cleaner, semantic HTML, which reduces code bloat and makes the DOM easier to render—less work for browsers means less energy used by devices.
2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (A)
When users instantly understand where links go, they’re less likely to click around aimlessly. Fewer page loads = reduced server demands = less energy consumption.
Accessible websites are typically leaner, faster, and more efficient, all of which contribute to lower energy usage across devices and networks. It’s like the Prius of the internet: not flashy, but efficient and better for everyone.
Sustainability in Web Development
Sustainability in web development refers to building and maintaining websites in ways that reduce environmental impact, particularly carbon emissions, while ensuring long-term usability, accessibility, and optimal performance. Here are a few best practices to help you get started.
Optimize Images and Media
Large images and autoplay videos use a tremendous amount of energy. Use next-gen formats like WebP, compress media, lazy-load images, and skip auto-play unless it’s absolutely necessary. Bonus: it speeds up your site, too!
Minimize JavaScript and Third-Party Scripts
An excessive amount of JavaScript requires more processing, which in turn requires more energy. Audit your scripts, remove unnecessary libraries, and avoid piling on trackers. Efficient code equals happier servers and a smoother user experience.
Use Green Hosting Providers
Your site needs a home—why not a solar-powered one? Choose web hosts that run on renewable energy or offset their carbon emissions. Some green hosts include GreenGeeks, Eco Web Hosting, or A2 Hosting’s green plan.
Design for Efficiency
Straightforward navigation, minimalist design, and accessible content mean fewer server requests and faster task completion. It’s not just good for the planet—users love it too.
Be sure to see the W3C’s Web Sustainability Guidelines for more guidance and resources.
WCAG and sustainable web design may seem like two different goals. However, they actually work together to build a web that’s accessible, inclusive, and environmentally responsible. By designing with accessibility and sustainability in mind, we can create websites that are easier for everyone to use and require fewer resources to run. This means less energy consumed, a smaller carbon footprint, and a web that’s a little kinder to both people and the planet.
Resources
- Sustainable Web Design
- Sustainable Web Manifesto
- Open Source Carbon Footprints
- Accessibility is good for the planet
- W3C’s Web Sustainability Guidelines
- How to Prioritize Digital Accessibility and Sustainability
- Sustainable Web Design: How Your Website Can Help Save the Planet
- The role of broadband connectivity in achieving Sustainable Development Goals
- The Hidden Cost of the Internet: Why the Web's Environmental Impact Matters Now More Than Ever
A human author creates the DubBlog posts. The AI tool Gemini is sometimes used to brainstorm subject ideas, generate blog post outlines, and rephrase certain portions of the content. Our marketing team carefully reviews all final drafts for accuracy and authenticity. The opinions and perspectives expressed remain the sole responsibility of the human author.
