Environmental sustainability

Environmental sustainability

The latest science warns that the impacts of climate change are greater and more far-reaching than previously understood, and that the window of opportunity to remain within the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature goal is quickly narrowing.

The mobile industry recognises the importance and urgency of tackling the climate crisis, which is why mobile operators are taking steps to mitigate their own impacts while deploying digital solutions to reduce emissions and enhance resilience in other sectors and society.

To understand how the mobile industry is progressing, mobile operators and suppliers are encouraged to disclose their climate impacts, risks and opportunities to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) every year. Operators are setting emissions reduction targets – with best practice aligned with the ICT sector pathway to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 or earlier – and reducing their emissions by improving energy-efficiency, purchasing and using renewable energy and electrifying heat and fleet vehicles. They are also working with other sectors to decarbonise by using smart, connected technologies and to change behaviours to improve efficiency and enable a low-carbon economy.

To put the world on a sustainable path requires the collective will and participation of everyone, not just one sector.Governments and regulatory authorities are key players in setting new policies and stimulating innovation for a world at risk.

The following topics offer a snapshot of the key aspects of climate action that touch the mobile sector and the industry’s perspective on how governments can, and must, take swift and meaningful action:

  • To prioritise a just transition to economy- wide net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.
  • To lay out national policies and plans that enable these targets to be achieved.
  • To create and protect resilient green jobs and provide education, reskilling and retraining opportunities for the workforce, in dialogue with business and other stakeholders.

Enabling digital transformation

Background

Mobile and other connected digital technologies are expected to transform all parts of the economy over the next decade. With targeted policies and investment, connected digital technologies have the potential to be a key driver of low carbon development.

Digital transformation can drive low carbon development by enabling more efficient use of energy and materials, implementing more circular business models and transitioning to renewable sources of energy.

Examples include smart, connected energy grids to manage predictable but intermittent renewable energy sources, smart building energy systems to reduce electricity and gas consumption and precision agriculture technologies to reduce water, fertiliser and pesticide use.

Debate

How can governments accelerate the deployment of smart, connected

technologies that will support national energy transition plans?

How can mobile operators collaborate with national and local governments to develop low-carbon solutions?

Industry position

  • The digital transformation of industry through the adoption of smart, connected technologies can significantly lower carbon emissions, and governments should make every effort to encourage this change across all sectors.
  • The mobile industry calls on governments to:
  • Recognise that digital transformation can support decarbonisation.
  • For a just transition, this should be accompanied by supporting policy measures that minimise any negative impacts on employment.
  • Encourage and incentivise private and public investments in digital infrastructure and solutions that contribute to climate change mitigation or adaptation and include them in existing and future state aid programmes, such as tax reductions, regardless of the sector.
  • Promote policies that favour a broader digital transformation of the economy combined with a robust digital governance framework to boost the transformation that many sectors must undertake.

Encourage the use of smart technologies to reduce emissions – for example

  • Reduce the energy consumption of buildings.
  • Increase renewable energy use through smart grids.
  •  Improve agricultural resilience and adaptation and reduce resource consumption.
  • Advance manufacturing processes and the ecosystem around them to create more sustainable                      production with a lower environmental impact.

Resources

The Enablement Effect, GSMA, 2019

The Role of Digital and Mobile Enabled Solutions in Addressing Climate Change, GSMA, 2021

Energy efficiency

Background

As mobile use and demand for widespread connectivity grow, so too does demand for data accessed through network infrastructure. Heavier data traffic drives up electricity use across networks, placing energy efficiency high on the agenda of mobile operators for both financial and environmental reasons.

Through innovation, the industry has boosted the efficiency of every new generation of mobile technology and 5G is the most energy efficient yet. The roll-out of 5G and densification of towers mean that, in the short term, mobile networks are expected to consume more electricity to support the increase in data traffic. This increase can be mitigated by retiring older, less energy- efficient 2G and 3G networks, by switching from copper to fibre for fixed networks and by deploying energy-efficient features of 5G, such as AI-optimised sleep modes.

The industry is working on several fronts:

  • Improving the efficiency of new networks with 5G specification by calling for a 90% reduction in the energy used to transfer each unit of data.25 GSMA Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure (CVD) programme
  • Switching off and removing legacy network equipment as soon as it becomes feasible to support migration to newer, more energy-efficient equipment.
  • Running efficiency programmes to identify energy hotspots and deploy measures to reduce energy consumption – for example, through temperature optimisation, free cooling at cell sites and power-saving features such as AI, selective switch-off and generator battery hybrids.
  • Encouraging mobile operators to earn the ISO 50001 certificate, which is the global standard for energy management systems in organisations.
  • Sharing and encouraging alignment with energy best practice across the industry to highlight operators’ energy-efficiency measures.
  • Making fleets more energy-efficient by investing in more fuel-efficient and lower carbon vehicles and by improving access to electric vehicle charging stations to facilitate the transition

Debate

How can innovation in mobile technology support national energy-efficiency improvements?

How can the mobile industry and governments work together to retire inefficient legacy equipment?

Industry position

Policies that support and incentivise the transition to more energy-efficient networks and mobile industry practice sare an important part of  achieving carbon reduction goals.

The mobile industry calls on governments to:

  • Support the roll-out of newer, more energy-efficient networks such as 5G, where it is feasible, including through efficient spectrum policy.
  • Enable older, less energy-efficient legacy equipment to be retired in regions where this is feasible and circumstances dictate market readiness for deployment.
  • Provide incentives for businesses to deploy energy-efficiency measures – for example, through reduced taxation for upgrading equipment, regulatory treatment and preference in public procurement.
  •  Support research and development for innovative, energy-efficient technologies – for example, for network equipment, data centres and buildings.

Resources

5G Energy Efficiencies: Green is the New Black, GSMA Intelligence, 2020

Going Green: Benchmarking the Energy Efficiency of Mobile, 2021

The 5G Guide: A Reference for Operators, GSMA, 2019


 

25 GSMA (2019), The 5G Guide: A Reference for Operators

Renewable electricity

Background

The fastest way for mobile operators to reduce carbon emissions is by using, purchasing and investing in renewable energy to power their operations. Many operators around the world are already doing this and have targets in place to source all of their electricity requirements from renewable sources. 26

However, there are challenges in sourcing renewables in many markets. For some markets, this is due to a lack of sourcing options due to centralised market control, while for others this is due to a lack of appropriate financial and legal structures to support investment in renewables.

High costs are a barrier in some countries, while others lack access to sufficient renewable energy resources. For some, itis a combination of these and other factors.27

The mobile industry recognises the urgent need to decarbonise electricity. The industry supports the phase-out of fossil fuel use and production and the ramp-up of clean and renewable sources of energy generation to increase renewable capacity. The following actions are being taken:

Developing targets and demonstrating progress to source 100% renewables for networks, data centres, buildings and infrastructure, including towers managed by towercos and energy service companies (ESCOs).

Publicly declaring renewable energy commitments – for example, through the RE100 initiative – and sending strong demand signals to the marketplace and to policymakers.

Investing in new renewable capacity – for example, by installing on-site renewable energy and pursuing power purchase agreements (PPAs) with new power generation facilities.

Engaging with policymakers to highlight the challenges of developing and accessing renewables and advocating for solutions.

Debate

How can the mobile industry commit to investment in additional renewable electricity generation?

How can PPPs accelerate the transition to renewable energy?

Industry Position

Governments play a crucial role in decarbonising the electricity supply by supporting investment, innovation and regulation designed to phase out fossil fuel use and production and ramp up renewable capacity.

The mobile industry calls on governments to:

  • Implement policies, regulations, market design and permitting that help to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy generation and expansion of electricity networks, including corporate purchases of renewable energy.
  • Address financing gaps and barriers for clean energy investments, particularly in LMICs where the cost of capital is high.
  • Support innovation to further reduce costs and improve technology performance of solar, wind and other clean energy sources, as well as the use of digital technologies to maximise the benefits of variable renewables.
  • Set targets and timelines to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and unabated fossil fuel generation in line with the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement.

Resources

Mobile Industry Position Paper: Access to Renewable Energy, GSMA, 2022

Renewable Energy for Mobile Towers: Opportunities for Low- and Middle-Income Countries, GSMA, 2020

Energy Challenges for Mobile Networks in Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA, 2023

26 GSMA (2023), Mobile Net Zero: State of the Industry on Climate Action 2023 27 GSMA (2022), Mobile Industry Position Paper: Access to Renewable Energy

Sustainable supply chain

Background

One of the biggest environmental impacts of the mobile industry is the manufacturing and use of devices and equipment. Although mobile phones and network equipment account for a small proportion of overall e-waste by weight, they can have a bigger impact than other waste streams because of the rare earth minerals and metals they contain.

By moving away from linear business models of mine-manufacture-use-dispose and towards more circular business models that repair, reuse and recycle equipment, the industry can become more environmentally sustainable. This is because circular business models harness the materials in unwanted equipment for other uses rather than treating everything as waste.28

The benefits of a circular economy and the need for it are undeniable. While the industry is mainly adopting circular eco nomy practices through separate initiatives, the GSMA has created a strategy that outlines opportunities to create a global and unified vision for the whole ecosystem.29 The strategic vision is underpinned by two principles: increasing the longevity of devices and equipment, and sending zero waste to landfill.30

Mobile companies are actively engaging in and supporting new e-waste policies and legislation around the world and creating reverse logistics supply chains to manage the flow of equipment for recycling. Leading operators are also boosting take-back schemes for unwanted mobile phones and sending zero waste to landfill.31

Debate

Could investment in innovative technology reduce waste and

recover precious materials, advancing more of the SDGs?

How can governments and industry collaborate to enhance the longevity of mobile devices and equipment?

Industry position

Governments can facilitate the transition to a circular economy by implementing policies that promote resource efficiency, innovation, solutions and standards.

The mobile industry calls on governments to:

  • Formulate clear policies and standards to drive energy and materials efficiency and circularity.
  • Include recommendations for products to be designed for
  • Support innovation and create incentives for circular solutions, including the development of infrastructure for handset reuse and component and materials recycling.
  • Engage with mobile operators and equipment and device manufacturers on waste and what happens at the end of a product’s life.

Resources

Strategy Paper for Circular Economy: Network Equipment, GSMA, 2022

Strategy Paper for Circular Economy: Mobile Devices, GSMA, 2022

Reuse, Refurbish, Recycle website, GSMA, 2023

28 Tillekeratne, D (22 April 2020), ‘Understanding the mobile waste management efforts of MNOs in emerging markets’, GSMA Blog 29 GSMA (2022), Strategy Paper for Circular Economy: Network Equipment 30 GSMA (2022), Strategy Paper for Circular Economy: Mobile Devices 31 GSMA (2023), ‘Reuse, Refurbish, Recycle’ website