According to the United Nations Trade and Development report, between 2010 and 2022 India saw the highest 163 percent growth globally in generating electronic waste from screens, computers, and small IT and telecommunication equipment (SCSIT). The 2024 Digital Economy Report states that Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital future notes that India doubled its share in SCSIT waste generation in the world from 3.1 percent in 2010 to 6.4 percent in 2022. According to the report, in 2022 developing countries in Asia generated most of such waste with China contributing nearly half of it. Highlighting the detrimental effects of electronic waste, it says a significant portion of waste generated from digitalization is managed in informal settings, mostly in developing countries.
According to the report, digitalization-related waste contains hazardous materials that, if not properly handled and treated, can have damaging effects on the environment and human health. Toxic materials consist of heavy metals and substances such as mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium, as well as persistent organic pollutants.
It acknowledges India’s efforts in minimizing the impact of product packaging and waste and lauds the country’s move towards more sustainable transportation and delivery. Amazon India has taken steps to achieve the complete elimination of single-use plastic, including by replacing plastic packaging material such as bubble wraps and air pillows with ‘paper cushions’. Zypp Electric, a last-mile delivery company in India, delivers goods using a fleet of zero-emissionselectric scooters and has invested in a charging network in urban centers.
In 2023 The report notes that nearly one-third of global mobile data traffic originated from Northeast Asia, with the next largest share coming from the group formed by Bhutan, India, and Nepal. According to the report, by the end of 2029, global 5G subscriptions are projected to surpass 5 billion, constituting nearly 60 percent of all mobile subscriptions. This growth will be driven mainly by Northeast Asia, particularly China, with India following closely behind.
It also adds that with fast digitalization and surging demand for cloud-based services, the overall data center market size in Asia and the Pacific was estimated to reach around $28 billion by 2024. China leads the market in terms of data center development, with India and Singapore among the frontrunners.
