COP27 – Turning Ambition into Action

Since COP26, the mobile industry has been accelerating its ambition on science-based and net zero targets. The industry continues to align around the 1.5°C decarbonisation pathway.

Mobile Net Zero 2022 Stats

Here are the latest reports, papers and examples of how the mobile sector is turning its high level of ambition into climate action.

Latest reports
Renewable Electricity

In order for mobile network operators to achieve net zero targets they must transition to renewable electricity. Operators have been scaling up the amount of renewable electricity used to power networks. During 2021, 18% of total electricity consumption was sourced directly from renewable sources. This figure is up from 14% in 2020, and is in addition to renewables already part of the grid mix.

To help with this MNOs, policymakers and energy generators can collaborate to increase renewable electricity supply to match 2030 demand.

Case Studies

APAC

Across the APAC region, an average 25% of electricity generated through grids is from renewable sources. However, GSMA figures show that operators are currently purchasing around 5% of renewable electricity (RE) to power their networks. Given barriers to companies accessing RE, concerted collaboration is needed between policymakers, energy generators and the corporate sector to increase RE capacity.

Examples:

NTT Docomo Jio

Europe

Mobile networks in Europe are leading globally as they are powered by 71% renewable electricity, on average. Mobile network operators in Europe are also increasingly transitioning from renewable energy certificates to long-term power purchase agreements to secure their renewable energy requirements.

Example:

TDC

MENA

Both the level of renewables on the grid and the amount mobile network operators are currently purchasing are currently low across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, at less than 5%. With COP27 in Egypt, and COP28 planned for the UAE, it is hoped this will spur greater focus and investment in renewable energy capacity across the region.

North America

On average, electricity grids across North America generate 25% of their electricity from renewables. Network operators in the region have scaled up renewable electricity usage and are currently using 43% on average. Operators continue to expand their use of power purchase agreements, for example supporting new solar farm creation.

Examples:

AT&T T-Mobile Verizon

SSA

The Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region currently generates 22% of its grid electricity through renewables and mobile operators directly purchase 7% RE on average to power networks. Improving market access to companies for renewable electricity would help turn their purchasing power into support for boosting RE capacity across the region.

Example:

Vodacom
Adaptation and Resilience

As climate change results in rising sea levels and more extreme weather events, mobile operators’ networks could be damaged with greater frequency, resulting in more service interruption for customers and greater financial risks. Operators are therefore under increasing pressure to make their networks as robust as possible so they can withstand extreme weather and be restored quickly.

At the same time, mobile technology and innovation enabled through, for example, AI and big data is uniquely positioned to provide and enable tools for climate change mitigation, adaptation, weather disaster response, pollution and environmental monitoring.

Case Studies

Telia: Travel Emission Insigh

Telia Travel Emission Insights gives city and environmental planners the tools to take action. It lets municipalities measure and benchmark the CO2 emissions from different routes and modes of transport. Then it helps them to prioritise which actions will have the biggest impact. It also lets them measure, share and report the progress they make.

Telia Travel Emission Insights combines anonymised movement data from Telia’s mobile network with the acclaimed CERO model of CO2 emissions. It’s the key to data-driven decision-making in the fight against climate change.

Telia Travel Emission Insights combine location-specific crowd movement data with the CERO (Climate and Economic Research in Organizations) model. This model was developed at The Swedish Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and is widely accepted as an accurate way for municipalities and private companies to benchmark their CO2 emissions and set action plans to reduce them in the most economically efficient way possible. Read more about CERO. Telia Travel Emission Insights provide concrete recommendations of actions to take – and what CO2 reductions they can achieve. For transport planners, it answers questions such as: Where should we invest in bus lanes and where should we invest in bike lanes? Where could public transport improvements make public transport faster than taking the car?

For sustainability teams and environmental coordinators within municipalities, it provides a tool to model different scenarios and calculate the results that each could have. This enables more data-driven public spending decisions and the ability to provide transparent reasoning as to why decisions are made and what they expect to achieve.

Further information

Mobile Big Data for Cities: Urban climate resilience strategies for low- and middle-income countries

Cities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and storm surges, heat stress, extreme precipitation, inland and coastal flooding and landslides. The physical effects of climate change have disrupted supply chains, led to lost productivity from health issues and incurred costs associated with rebuilding or repairing physical assets, such as buildings and transport infrastructure.

This study highlights the potential value of using mobile big data (MBD) in preparing for and responding to climate-related disasters in cities. In line with the “3As” of urban climate resilience, a framework adopted by the GSMA Mobile for Development programme, this study examines how MBD could help cities and their populations adapt to multiple long-term challenges brought about by climate change, anticipate climate hazards or events and/or absorb (face, manage and recover from) adverse conditions, emergencies or disasters.

Download the report

Building Climate Resilient Digital Nations

This session ‘Building Climate Resilient Digital Nations’ bought together thought leaders, industry practitioners and project implementers to initiate a conversation on how digital technology can play a vital role in supporting national governments’ work towards their climate mitigation and adaptation targets; taking the efforts that the Mobile Innovation Hub team has initiated in Indonesia in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH as a catalyst.

To learn more:

Watch the session Read the blog