Digital planetary burden index: A framework for situating digital infrastructure within planetary boundaries

Digital infrastructure is central to modern life, yet its environmental burden remains underexamined, particularly in the context of planetary boundaries. This study introduces the Digital Planetary Burden Index (DPBI), an integrative framework designed to quantify the ecological impacts of digital systems across five key dimensions: energy consumption, material intensity, water usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and e-waste generation. These indicators are mapped onto the planetary boundaries framework to provide a science-based structure for assessing the sustainability of digital operations. The DPBI is empirically tested through a case study of a Google data center to reveal the often-overlooked planetary stress associated with digital infrastructure. Despite its virtual nature, the data center demonstrates substantial environmental impacts across multiple biophysical domains, underscoring the discrepancy between digital convenience and ecological cost. The DPBI fills a critical gap in sustainability science by linking digital infrastructure with global ecological thresholds. It supports enhanced environmental accountability in the tech sector and provides a transparent, replicable model for evaluating digital sustainability. By situating digital systems within the Earth’s finite limits, the DPBI offers a strategic tool for evidence-based governance and climate-aligned innovation, contributing to more sustainable digital development pathways in the Anthropocene.