Digital Carbon Footprint in Remote Work: Regulatory, Labor and Human Challenges for Integral Sustainability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21803/ingecana.5.5.948Keywords:
Digital carbon footprint, Emotional intelligence, Environmental regulation, Digital sustainabilityAbstract
This article analyzes the digital carbon footprint in the context of remote work, considering its relationship with the intensive use of information technologies, the growth of data centers, and the absence of specific regulation in Colombia. A qualitative methodology was applied through a documentary review of academic, regulatory, and technical sources published between 2018 and 2025. The results show a sustained increase in indirect CO₂ emissions derived from everyday digital habits, as well as regulatory gaps and the lack of inclusion of this footprint in environmental planning instruments. In addition, business proposals aimed at digital sustainability are identified, and the emotional dimension of intensive technological use is examined. The article concludes with the need to design public policies, indicators, and practices that incorporate the digital footprint as a key component in the transition toward more comprehensive environmental, organizational, and human sustainability.
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