Mobile industry emissions down 8% but progress still too slow

Mobile industry emissions down 8% but progress still too slow is profiled by BTW Media because published evidence links it to internet infrastructure, governance, operational dependencies, or market visibility.

• Mobile industry emissions dropped 8% in 2022, according to GSMA, despite a big rise in data use.
• Progress is not fast enough to align with the UN-backed 1.5°C climate goal.

What happened: GSMA’s latest climate report shows emissions in the mobile industry fell in 2022, but current efforts are not enough to meet global targets

The mobile industry cut its carbon emissions by 8% in 2022, based on new figures from the GSMA. This follows a smaller drop of 2% the year before. The GSMA said the data covers around 70% of the global market and showed some signs of progress. Mobile data traffic went up by 25%, but energy use still fell by 2%. Operators also raised the share of electricity coming from renewable sources to 27%, which is 3% more than in 2021.

The GSMA report shows that 70 operator groups, which together make up 85% of the sector by revenue, have set climate goals that match the UN-backed 1.5°C pathway. These companies have joined the Science-Based Targets initiative. The GSMA prepared the data with help from the Carbon Trust and released it in its latest Mobile Net Zero report. The report warned that if the industry does not go faster, it will miss the target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

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Why this is important

The GSMA said the pace of cuts must now double. John Giusti, GSMA’s Chief Regulatory Officer, said the industry is making progress, but needs more help. He said governments should give mobile companies better support, for example by making it easier to buy renewable energy or by changing rules that slow down clean energy investment. The report said the industry will not reach net zero on its own.

Other industries have also been slow to decarbonise. The International Energy Agency said the digital sector must use less energy per unit of data. Telecom firms in Europe now use far more renewable energy than those in other regions. Europe made up 75% of all renewable power use in the mobile sector, which shows there is a gap between regions. BT Group, one of the UK’s main operators, said supply chains still pose major climate risks.

The GSMA also said that reporting needs to improve. Some operators do not yet measure all their emissions. Without full data, it is hard to track progress. This makes it harder for the whole sector to plan. The GSMA urged operators to collect more detailed information and publish it every year.