How your iPhone sparked devastating hurricanes that killed more than 100 Americans this year
Experts reveal your iPhone may have contributed to the deadly hurricanes that hit the US this year.
Researchers have found that smartphones generate 580 million tons of carbon dioxide every year, almost 100 million tons more than the global aviation industry.
These emissions warm the Earth’s oceans and foster conditions for storms like Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that hit Florida in October.
“Every step of mobile 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, exacerbating extreme weather events.”
Experts warned that as smartphones become more sophisticated with power-hungry features like AI and the technology ecosystem continues to expand, the world could see more profound environmental and weather impacts in the coming years.
Sawhney expects that future devices will “place greater strain on data centers” and “require significant electricity” that could come from non-renewable energy sources.
“The increase in emissions from the expanding technology ecosystem is contributing to global warming,” he said.
‘As a result, we could see more pronounced climate changes, potentially leading to an increase in extreme weather events over time.’
Experts have revealed that your iPhone may be contributing to deadly weather conditions due to the carbon dioxide emissions released at every stage of its manufacturing and use
This grim 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, possibly up to $100 billion in damage, and locals recently had access to clean water.
Meanwhile, a bomb cyclone – believed to be the worst in a decade – caused destruction in several West Coast states.
Hurricane Milton unleashed rare tornadoes across Florida and took off approximately 2.6 million Floridians without power.
At least 32 Americans died during the storm.
“The connection lies in the cumulative effect of carbon emissions from various sources, including the technology industry, that affects the overall climate system,” Sawhney said.
Climate change increases the humidity in the atmosphere, which can increase the intensity of rainfall and storms.
Higher ocean temperatures, another effect of climate change, are thought to be causing high-velocity tropical storms. And rising sea levels can flood coastal areas.
Smartphones generate 580 million tons of carbon dioxide every year. These emissions warm Earth’s oceans and foster conditions for storms like Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that hit Florida in October (photo)
Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, are the driving forces behind climate change, releasing the sun’s heat into the atmosphere. This warms the planet.
And experts have discovered that your iPhone is already playing a role in climate change before it even hits the production line.
Data has shown that for every smartphone produced, it consumes approximately 155 pounds of natural resources, which are shipped to electronics manufacturers.
The extraction and processing of natural resources is considered one of the largest sources of carbon emissions worldwide, accounting for more than 50 percent of total emissions.
Subsequently, the production of one iPhone emits almost 180 kilos of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to 26 weeks of driving a car.
The use of the iPhone triggers a new flow of emissions.
Hurricane Milton unleashed rare tornadoes across Florida (pictured), leaving approximately 2.6 million Floridians without power. At least 32 Americans died during the storm
Nirav Chheda, CEO of Bambi TAKEStold DailyMail.com that streaming content on phones, charging them, making phone calls and sending text messages rely on large amounts of electricity that in many cases still comes from fossil fuels.
Researchers say that once users get done with their smartphones and upgrade to the latest model, additional damage to the planet – and subsequently bad weather – could occur.
That’s because billions of phones end up in landfills every year, which Chheda says can lead to toxic chemicals from smartphone batteries leaking into the soil and causing serious pollution.
Chheda described the e-waste situation as “poor” and “deteriorating.”
“The amount of e-waste is staggering: millions of tons per year, and smartphones are a big part of that,” he said.
‘Many of the materials used in phones are toxic and difficult to recycle, so when devices are thrown away they often leak harmful substances into the environment.’