Climate Justice and Tech: Can the Law Keep Up?

Rebekah Harrison-Smith -

Tech companies are often seen as leaders of innovation, but behind their sleek devices and cloud services lies a growing environmental footprint. From energy-hungry data centres to rare mineral extraction and e-waste, the tech industry is contributing significantly to the climate crisis. But are current laws equipped to hold Big Tech accountable?

The Tech Industry’s Environmental Impact

1. Data Centres and Energy Use

Data centres used for cloud storage, streaming, and AI processing consume vast amounts of electricity; some matching the output of small nations. Many rely on non-renewable energy sources, adding to global carbon emissions.

2. Raw Material Extraction

Tech devices rely on rare earth elements and minerals like lithium and cobalt, often mined in the Global South under dangerous and environmentally damaging conditions.

3. E-Waste

Frequent hardware upgrades and planned obsolescence lead to massive electronic waste. Much of this ends up in developing countries, where environmental protections and recycling facilities are limited.

UK and EU Regulation

  • UK Environment Act 2021 provides a general environmental framework but lacks tech-specific regulations.
  • The EU WEEE Directive governs e-waste collection but has inconsistent enforcement.
  • The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) mandates disclosure but doesn’t impose direct emission limits.

International Law

  • No binding treaty exists that mandates climate accountability for multinational tech firms.
  • Voluntary frameworks (e.g. UN Global Compact) are widely adopted but not enforceable.

The Accountability Gap

Most existing laws focus on transparency, not action. Tech companies often publish sustainability reports and carbon neutrality pledges, but without enforceable standards, these can amount to greenwashing.

Furthermore, the supply chain for most devices spans jurisdictions with weak environmental protections. This allows companies to outsource emissions and pollution, shielding themselves from legal responsibility.

Greenwashing and ESG Loopholes

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings often paint a favourable picture of tech firms, despite questionable practices. Without unified standards for ESG disclosures, many claims go unchecked.

The Role of Law Students and Activists

  • Climate litigation: Increasingly used to challenge corporate inaction or greenwashing.
  • Policy reform: Advocating for stronger laws on digital emissions, e-waste, and ethical supply chains.
  • University action: Students can push for climate-conscious procurement, sustainable tech use, and transparency in university partnerships with tech firms.

Why Students Should Care

From online learning platforms to cloud storage and smart devices, students are deeply embedded in the tech ecosystem. Understanding the climate cost of these systems and pushing for accountability is essential in the fight for climate justice.

The tech sector’s climate impact is real, growing, and largely unregulated. While existing laws promote transparency, they often lack the teeth to enforce meaningful change. For law students, activists, and consumers, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity to advocate for stronger, greener digital futures.

Sources to Cite:

  1. Greenpeace, "Clicking Clean Report": https://www.greenpeace.org/international/publication/17880/clicking-clean-2017/
  2. UN Environment Programme, "E-Waste Challenge": https://www.unep.org/resources/report/global-ewaste-monitor-2020
  3. European Commission, "Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive": https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/non-financial-reporting_en
  4. UK Government, Environment Act 2021: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/30/contents/enacted
  5. Ethical Consumer, "Greenwashing in Tech": https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/technology/greenwashing-tech