Your iPhone may have contributed to the deadly hurricanes that battered the US this year, experts reveal.
Researchers have found that smartphones generate 580 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, nearly 100 million more tons than the global aviation industry. These emissions warm Earth's oceans, fostering conditions for storms such as Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that struck Florida in October.
'Each step of cell phone production involves significant energy consumption,' Ravi Sawhney, CEO of global design and innovation consultancy RKS Design told DailyMail.com, 'and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn exacerbate extreme weather events.'
Experts warned that as smartphones become more advanced with power-hungry features like AI and the tech ecosystem continues to expand, the world could see more profound environmental and weather effects unfold over the next few years.
Sawhney expects future devices to place 'more strain on data centers' and 'require substantial electricity' that could come from nonrenewable energy sources. 'The increase in emissions from the expanding tech ecosystem contributes to global warming,' he said. 'As a result, we may see more pronounced climate changes, potentially leading to an increase in extreme weather events over time.'
This stark warning comes after an intense hurricane season, with much of the Southeastern US still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The storm resulted in at least 100 deaths and potentially up to $100 billion of damage.
Meanwhile, a bomb cyclone caused devastation across multiple states on the West Coast. Hurricane Milton unleashed rare tornadoes through Florida, leaving around 2.6 million Floridians without power. At least 32 Americans lost their lives during the storm.
'The link lies in the cumulative effect of carbon emissions from various sources, including the tech industry,' Sawhney said.
Climate change increases atmospheric moisture, which can heighten the intensity of rainfall and storms. Hotter ocean temperatures are thought to cause high-speed tropical storms. And rising sea levels can flood coastal areas.
Nirav Chheda explained that streaming content on phones relies on large amounts of electricity that often comes from fossil fuels.
Researchers said once users upgrade their smartphone models additional damage occurs because billions end up in landfills yearly. This can result in toxic chemicals leaking into soil causing serious pollution.