In February 2019 the GSMA Board, comprising members from the largest mobile network operators in the world, set a milestone ambition – to transform the mobile industry to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, at the latest. Our first step was to understanding how to get there.

There was no pathway for the ICT sector in line with the Paris Agreement. So we collaborated with the ITU, GeSI and SBTI to create a climate action roadmap to net zero by 2050, launched in February 2020.

To achieve net zero by 2050 the energy sector needs to halve emissions by 2030. To achieve this, innovative approaches to manage supply and demand are needed to accelerate the transition from an energy system 84% dependent on fossil fuels, to one that runs on renewable power. Connected technology will be essential to providing the backbone infrastructure for this.

Using wireless connectivity, grids can manage the production and consumption of energy much more effectively. Connected devices across the grid can aggregate energy flows, feeding them into cloud-based platforms. By harnessing the power of AI computing in these platforms, renewable energy resources will be better managed, helping to retire fossil fuels from the existing energy mix more quickly.

The manufacturing sector has a big challenge to reach net zero. It currently accounts for more than 16 gigatonnes of CO₂ per year. That equates to roughly one third of total global emissions. To reach the 2050 net zero target the manufacturing sector needs to halve emissions in the next ten years: a reduction of 8.6 gigatonnes.

Mobile connectivity has the ability help the manufacturing sector decarbonise. Smart connected factories could reduce emissions by 1.4 gigatonnes of CO₂ by 2030, or 16% of the cuts needed. This would save the same emissions as manufacturing approximately 140 million cars…

The transport sector is a key challenge on the journey to net zero. Moving towards a sustainable model for transport systems and having a more connected society that can travel less is imperative.

The GSMA estimates investment in the digital infrastructure to support more sustainable travel could save 2.8 gigatonnes of CO2 by 2030. These savings could be realised within just four areas: connecting electric vehicles, routing and fleet management of heavy goods vehicles and commercial shipping, as well as working from home That is equivalent to 65% of the 4.4 gigatonnes of CO₂ reduction required across transport to be on a path to net zero by 2050.

The buildings we live, work and shop in have a role to play in reaching net zero. The buildings sector needs to reduce its carbon emissions by 5.1 gigatonnes by 2030 if it is to meet net zero by 2050. Investment in the digital infrastructure to make buildings smart such as smart meters at home and in commercial premises (electricity and gas) and integrated heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems could enable a reduction of 2.2 gigatonnes. That’s 43% of the reduction required just through smart technology.

The majority of smart building design and retrofits is in major cities in the UK, US, Dubai and China. This needs to expand rapidly and falling costs should spur adoption more widely alongside construction regulations incorporating energy efficiency guidelines.