Websites require servers to use electrical power. Generating this power requires the burning of fossil fuels. Therefore websites do have a carbon footprint.
The more complicated the website, the more work is required to be done by the server and this will require more power, leading to more emissions. The web could have been much better for the environment.
There is some merit in website minimalism. Not only are minimalist websites easier to load, they are easier to interact with and navigate as well. The only downside of minimalist websites is the possible loss of what some users may consider as beauty.
The website Website Carbon can be used to check your website carbon score and help you to know if it is environmentally friendly or not. The great folks at WHOLEGRAINdigital have written an article on improving how eco-friendly your website is.
We ran the test on this website and here are the results:
Conclusion
Shorter development time and plug-and-play aesthetics may be tempting to web developers but the long-term effects of everyone simply taking the easiest route will be negative on the world we live in.