The global mobile industry recorded a 4.5% drop in operational emissions in 2024, according to the GSMA’s latest Mobile Net Zero report—bringing the sector’s total emissions reduction to 8% since 2019, even as global emissions rose by 4% over the same period.
Despite the progress, the GSMA cautions that the sector must accelerate its decarbonisation trajectory, halving emissions annually by 7.5% through 2030 to align with net-zero commitments by 2050. The report is based on data from 77 mobile operators, representing 80% of global mobile connections.
Europe leads the emissions race, with 56% of its operators reporting significant reductions between 2019 and 2023, followed by North America (44%) and Latin America (36%). Although Chinese operators were not part of the official dataset, external analysis suggests a 4% decline in China’s operational emissions in 2024 after years of growth.
GSMA Head of Climate Action, Steven Moore, said: “The industry isn’t greenwashing or greenwishing—it’s green acting. But to stay on course, we need faster progress, broader access to renewables, and greater cross-sector collaboration.”
Operators have made measurable gains by transitioning to renewable energy—now accounting for 37% of their electricity usage, up from just 13% in 2019—and by phasing out legacy infrastructure and diesel reliance. European operators such as Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and O2 Telefónica are driving long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to secure clean energy sources.
However, the report flags Scope 3 emissions—those generated across supply chains and device manufacturing—as the sector’s most pressing challenge. These emissions constitute more than two-thirds of the industry’s carbon footprint and remain poorly disclosed.
Australian operator Telstra is cited as a leader, having reduced Scope 3 emissions by 31% since 2019. Industry-wide, there is growing momentum toward circularity: 12 leading operators have pledged to retrieve 20% of sold devices by 2030 to keep them out of landfills. Refurbished handsets, according to the report, produce up to 90% less carbon than new devices.
The GSMA report makes clear that while the mobile industry is on the right path, the pace of change must accelerate dramatically to meet climate targets and build a sustainable, low-carbon digital future.
Source: Datacentredynamics.com
