What is your mobile operator doing to combat the climate crisis? This may not be something you give much thought to, but with more networks around the world aligning with science-based goals, it’s easier than ever to see if the service you’re paying for is taking real action to reduce its environmental impact.
In a report released at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Tuesday, mobile industry body GSMA said nearly a quarter (24%) of the energy used by the mobile sector comes from renewable sources, up from 14% in 2020. In addition to 62 companies Transfer. It has now committed globally to rapidly reducing its direct and indirect emissions by 2030, which account for 61% of the industry in terms of revenue. This represents an increase of 12 networks since the previous report published last April.
The GSMA is leading an industry-wide campaign to ensure carriers reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The main metric it uses to gauge its members’ ambition is their commitment to preventing global warming from exceeding 1.5°C, the science-based target in the Paris Agreement.
With the effects of the climate crisis – from floods to wildfires to deadly heatwaves – increasingly being felt in regions around the world, there is growing pressure on all industries to prioritize the transition to clean energy and ensure they play an active role in preserving ecosystems rather than harming them. with it. The mobile industry is no exception, and some networks are doing more than others to mitigate their environmental impact, which can make a difference to where you choose to spend your money.
On the hardware side, phone makers are investing heavily in giving phones a longer life and using more recycled materials in their products. But on the grid side, companies are increasingly investing in finding ways to build and operate infrastructure using methods that are highly efficient and less energy-intensive than those used in the past.
John Giusti, head of the GSMA’s regulatory office, said the biggest challenge for carriers is access to renewable energy. “The good news is that the industry is moving forward, with operators now directly purchasing 24% of their electricity from renewable sources, up from 18% in 2021 and 14% in 2020,” he said in the report. But, he added, as carriers demand more supply, governments need to help expand access to renewable energy.
Europe and North America, two of the most historical emitters, are taking the lead when it comes to ambitious sustainability commitments and actions. “Maybe it’s only fair because parts of the world are the most climate-advanced and therefore have the greatest potential to actually reduce their emissions,” Stephen Moore, head of climate action at the GSMA, said in an interview. With CNET in the week leading up to MWC.
The GSMA report looked at actions being taken by mobile operators around the world, but named T-Mobile as an example of a company taking significant steps to reduce its carbon footprint in the United States. It is the first company in the wireless sector in the United States to set a net-zero target verified by the Target Science initiative that covers all of its emissions, including emissions from throughout the supply chain and indirect emissions from purchased electricity. It is also one of the few networks so far to set net zero by 2040, rather than 2050.
Meanwhile, its two main competitors, Verizon and AT&T, have allied themselves on a 1.5-degree path, and Verizon has committed to net-zero emissions across the board by 2050. Moore said he wouldn’t be surprised if networks in many places finally achieved net-zero a year earlier. 2050 by far. “Once we start investing, it’s amazing how quickly things can change,” he said.
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