4.1 - Domain Names (New Success Criteria) #53
Description
Proposal to create a new Success Criteria for 4.1 covering the impacts of domain names.
Note: Even though many people keep domain registrations and hosting separate (and several registrars don't offer hosting), It makes sense to place it where there will be an expectation from readers (as the two responsibilities are connected).
WSG Entry
Success Criterion - Domain names (Machine-testable)
The impact of domain names is disclosed by registries and registrars, and registrants consider and (where possible) mitigate against these environmental issues.
Additional information
- https://go.eco/news/carbon-footprint-of-domain-registries/
- https://go.eco/news/climate-impact-of-a-domain-name/
- https://assets.dnsbelgium.be/attachment/Climate%20Footprint%20Report%20DNS%20Belgium%202023.pdf
- https://www.cira.ca/uploads/2024/12/CIRA-branded-FY24-GHG-Inventory-Report-Final.pdf
- https://go.eco/impact/ghg-report-2024/
- https://www.afnic.fr/en/observatory-and-resources/news/a-fr-domain-name-generates-147g-of-co2-per-year/
- https://www.afnic.fr/en/associating-excellence/our-commitments/social-responsibility-at-afnic/environment-measuring-understanding-and-reducing-the-impact-of-our-activities/
- https://nominet.uk/sustainability/
- https://internetstiftelsen.se/app/uploads/2025/01/internetstiftelsen-2023-klimatrapport-250124-1.pdf
- https://tracker.greenweb.org/index/domain-retailers/
STAR Entry
Ensure that emissions reports are published, with adequate frequency, considering (if possible) changes to DNS, subdomain allocation, multiple domain ownership, or other conditions that may impact the scope results. Also, be sure to provide calculations on an individual and collective domain level (where situations allow) to enable the best overview possible of total impact and most impactful domains. Having these metrics available for customers will increase public awareness, and allow registrants to meet reporting obligations as part of their compliance requirements.
For machine testability customer accounts should have a method to view changes in emissions, this would require an account (of a registrar) to be made accessible within tooling or for generalized statistics that account for the total amount of users to be made publicly visible (so averages can be used). This would help estimate and account for the impact of domain use based on TLD choice and other variables that will be relevant to the measurement criteria. The methodology behind the calculations should also be provided in a centralized location.
Examples
- The Eco Registry provides climate reports for customers, allowing them to get an estimate of the emissions from operating the domain name over the lifetime of the registration period.
Tests > Procedure
- Check that the provider has made available relevant impact metrics publicly.
- Account for factors that may affect domain impact 78BF (such as number of domains in use).
- Check that logging of past values over time is provided for calculating emissions.
Tests > Expected Results
- All checks above are true.
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