In the era of rapid technological advancement, digital transformation intends to revolutionize industries and economies. At the forefront of this advancement stands artificial intelligence (AI), a technology with the potential to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 5-to-10% globally, according to the World Economic Forum. This underscores modern technologies' crucial role in reversing climate change's effects.
As the digital world advances, sustainability has emerged as a central focus in the ICT industry, urging operators, vendors, and solution providers to balance innovation with environmental responsibility.
However, current technological advancements that appear to accelerate climate change, such as big data, machine learning (ML), and AI, might be the keys to reversing its effects.
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The Global Digital Transformation
Digital transformation has become the driving force of profound change in industries and human lives, altering how we live, work, and interact. Cutting-edge innovations and new network technologies have accelerated this transformation, paving the way for revolutionary strategies and solutions.
This global transformation has increased the rate of carbon emissions over the years, leading to extreme climate change. According to the GSMA’s data analysis, an estimated 140 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) were emitted by the mobile industry’s operations, accounting for around 0.3% of total global GHG emissions.
These operational emissions were mostly generated by electricity. To put this into perspective, in 2022, global operators utilized 320 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity (around 1.3% of global electricity usage). This reflects how older, less energy-efficient network technologies like 2G, 3G, and 4G, contribute to high electricity consumption.
However, these technologies have also enabled the development of innovations that are enhancing global climate resiliency. For example, the Geographic Information System (GIS) utilizes hazard maps to assess damages and enable mobile text alerts to relay emergency information during disasters.
Virtual and mixed realities (VR/MR) contribute to the visualization of climate impacts, paving the way for the development and adoption of catastrophe mitigation strategies.
The Internet of Things (IoT), along with AI, can predict disasters and deliver warnings through predictive analytics and real-time monitoring, ultimately saving lives from impending calamities.
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The Road to Net-Zero
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the ICT industry is estimated to account for between 1.5 to 4% of total global GHG emissions, underscoring the urgent need to reduce the industry’s impact on the environment.
Science-based targets have been established to guide organizations, with the Paris Agreement limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Exceeding 1.5°C may trigger multiple climate adversities, according to the ITU.
Furthermore, in 2019, the GSMA announced an ambitious goal, aiming to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2050. According to its Mobile Net-Zero 2024 report, the number of global operators committed to near-term science-based targets as part of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) has reached 70, representing 48% of all mobile connections and 68% of revenues. The GSMA also launched the Climate Action Taskforce to strengthen collaboration between operators, agree on climate policy frameworks, and share best practices on climate action.
Additionally, leading operators from around the world have committed to reducing the environmental impact of mobile phones by reusing, repairing, and recycling devices. This comes following the release of an analysis conducted by the GSMA, which found that more than five billion mobile phones are currently unused.
In the Middle East, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Sustainability Innovation Hub was established through the collaborative efforts of the region’s leading industry giants, including Ooredoo, e&, Beyon, du, stc, Zain, and Omantel.
The strategic initiative aims to achieve Net-Zero goals by decarbonizing the telecom industry and reducing its carbon footprint.
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Driving a Sustainable Future
To navigate the global sustainability challenge, organizations in the ICT industry are developing innovative programs to reduce their carbon footprints and pave the way to a more sustainable future.
The GSMA’s Mobile Net-Zero report underscored that 60% of operators are already planning their climate change risk and opportunity analysis, demonstrating their commitment to supporting global sustainability goals.
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 2024 was marked as the ‘Year of Sustainability’ to reinforce and strengthen its commitment to a sustainable future. Supporting the UAE’s ambition to reduce environmental impact, telecom operator, du, accomplished a substantial 21% diversion of waste from landfills across its 145 site locations in the country.
Japan-based telecommunications company, NTT Group, established a sustainable vision in 2021 called the ‘NTT Green Innovation Toward 2040’ to achieve zero environmental impact and economic growth simultaneously through carbon neutrality.
Supporting the Japanese government’s vision for ‘Carbon Neutrality by 2050,’ NTT Group’s sustainability initiatives are focusing on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45% by increasing the use of renewable energy and utilizing IOWN technology to lower energy consumption.
Telecom vendors are equally committed to the cause with Ericsson dedicated to limiting global temperature increase to 1.5°C. Meanwhile, Nokia has set an ambitious goal to achieve an 83% reduction of carbon emissions across its own operations by 2030. The Finnish telecom vendor is addressing its energy efficiency goal by leveraging 5G-Advanced and upcoming 6G network technology. Furthermore, in collaboration with ‘Hack for Earth,’ Ericsson launched a hackathon during COP28 in 2023, to find impactful solutions and address climate change.
Similarly, Umniah has unveiled a comprehensive sustainability program, which aims to combat climate challenges, showcasing a commitment to environmental stewardship. Highlighting the pivotal role of technology, Dr. Fang Liangzhou, Vice President and CMO of Huawei Digital Power, stated, "Technology innovation will play a central role in tackling climate change." This perspective aligns with the actions of e&, which is accelerating its climate initiatives to align with the UAE’s Net-Zero Strategy.
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Final Thoughts
Amidst global digital transformation, industries are at the crossroad of innovation and environmental stewardship. The global technological revolution heralds not only unprecedented growth but also significant and serious challenges.
The journey to reduce the telecom industry’s carbon footprint may appear challenging yet is attainable. The collective efforts of industry drivers are crucial to reversing the increasingly dire effects of climate change.
Significant strides in achieving Net-Zero goals can be achieved by adhering to global sustainability initiatives, such as the SBTi. However, it is imperative to note that today’s innovations may be the answer to accelerating sustainable goals. Innovations such as AI, IoT, and 5G networks are poised to substantially reduce the global carbon footprint.
As we move forward, it is time to view technology as a valuable ally to ensure that our digital future is environmentally conscious.
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