Green IT: how does technology impact wildlife?

14th April 2025

Looking out of my window at the Interfuture Systems offices, I am lucky enough to be able to spot a variety of wildlife. As well as your typical garden birds (robins, sparrows, etc) we can often see different birds of prey, like sparrowhawks and kites, as well as pheasants.

Being so immersed in nature, I can’t help but wonder the impact technology has on it. Researching further, I was pleased to see there are a lot of positives, along with the negatives you might expect:

Positive impacts

Wildlife conservation: it is much easier to track an animal’s movement and numbers with newer technology like drones, GPS tracking and camera traps. By identifying patterns in what species do, you can better understand what they need and how to look after them.

Anti-poaching efforts: thermal imaging cameras and AI powered surveillance help to detect and prevent poaching activities, with real-time monitoring and rapid threat response.

Habitat monitoring: technology like satellite imagery can help to monitor changes in ecosystems, allowing us to see the impact we are having on the natural world.

Negative impacts

Habitat disruption: building and maintaining IT infrastructure, including data centres and communication towers can lead to environmental damage.

Electromagnetic radiation: wireless technology and networks can expose wildlife to electromagnetic radiation, potentially impacting their health.

Pollution: production and disposal of electronic devices leads to pollution – e-waste contains hazardous materials that can contaminate soil and water, affecting ecosystems as well as harming wildlife directly.

Obviously, modern technology has a negative impact on wildlife, but progress is being made to rectify this. Companies are making net-zero pledges, converting to renewable energy sources and generally improving environmental practices. There are also plenty of positive applications of new technology for wildlife.

Ultimately, it is important to do what you can to protect wildlife, even if it is in a small way – you can only do what you can do.

If you would like to know what else you can do to improve your IT system’s environmental efficiency, Interfuture Systems may have the answer: contact us HERE.