Advancing sustainable digital ecosystems: a comprehensive review of green computing innovations and challenges

Abstract

Green computing has become a critical approach to address the environmental impact of information and communication technologies (ICT), which consume a significant portion of global electricity and contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions. This review synthesizes recent advancements in energy-efficient hardware, software optimization, green cloud computing, and sustainable artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) systems, focusing on their potential to reduce energy consumption and electronic waste. Innovations such as neuromorphic processors, dynamic voltage and frequency scaling, renewable-powered data centers, low-power IoT protocols, and federated learning demonstrate significant energy savings and improved sustainability. However, challenges like high initial costs, inadequate e-waste regulations, and inconsistent global policies, particularly in developing regions, hinder widespread adoption. This paper provides actionable insights for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers to foster eco-friendly digital ecosystems, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), by evaluating current innovations, challenges, and policy gaps.