9. Annex

Methodology

This analysis relies primarily on data from 70 mobile network operators disclosed to the CDP Climate Change 2023 Questionnaire. These operators represent about 55% of mobile connections globally. We conducted data quality checks to flag potential anomalies in the data (e.g. unit errors), including checking year-over-year-changes in emissions and energy use, intensity metrics (e.g. emissions and electricity use per connection, Scope 2 emissions per unit electricity consumed) and comparing any outliers with publicly reported data.

For operators not disclosing to CDP in the 2023 cycle, we gathered key emissions and energy data from corporate reports (e.g. integrated annual reports, ESG reports), if available. Data from nine large operators were collected via public reports, covering about a quarter of global mobile connections.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions and energy data for the remaining operators were extrapolated at a regional level based on the reported data from other operators in each region (e.g. average Scope 1 emissions per connection). Scope 3 emissions for non-reporting operators were extrapolated at the global level using average emissions per connection of operators disclosing at least four of the five key categories (1, 2, 3, 11, 15).