Cement Energy & Environment

19 ESG Economics, Sustainability Myths, and the Hidden Environmental Burden of IT, Space, and Emerging Technologies Author: Mrinmoy Chakraborty, M.Sc Applied Geology, PG Diploma in Environmental Law (NLSIU) ABSTRACT The discourse on sustainability in India and globally is dominated by narratives that often vilify oil & gas, mining, and cement industries, while downplaying or ignoring the equally significant or greater environmental costs of IT infrastructure, space technology, livestock, agriculture, and healthcare. This paper examines how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks are economically manipulated to protect certain industries while disproportionately burdening heavy industries. Using comparative data, charts, and published scientific evidence, this article provides a reality check on the myths of sustainability, with a focus on India and other emerging economies. INTRODUCTION The cement, oil & gas, and mining sectors are often projected as villains of global warming and environmental degradation. However, emerging evidence shows that IT (particularly data centers), space exploration, and e-waste present equally damaging—if not greater—threats. Unlike visible emissions from cement kilns or mining operations, IT and space damages are hidden, outsourced, or invisible to the public. This biased narrative, strengthened by ESG economics, affects industrial policy and global investment patterns.