Mobile Operators Slash Emissions 13% but Renewable Energy Access Remains Bottleneck
Event summary
- Global mobile operators reduced operational emissions by 13% since 2019 despite a 10% rise in connections and quadrupled data traffic.
- Renewable energy purchases/generation reached 70 TWh in 2024, equivalent to Indonesia's total renewable output.
- Share of operator electricity from renewables doubled from 10% (2019) to 24% (2024).
- GSMA report analyzed data from 110 operators covering 85% of global mobile connections.
The big picture
The mobile industry's emissions reduction demonstrates the feasibility of decoupling digital growth from carbon output, but structural challenges in clean energy access—particularly in emerging markets—threaten progress. The GSMA report highlights how policy frameworks and grid modernization will determine whether operators can maintain their decarbonization trajectory amid surging connectivity demands.
What we're watching
- Policy Enablement
- How government policies will affect renewable energy infrastructure investment in emerging markets.
- Decarbonization Pace
- Whether current progress can sustain the industry's net-zero-by-2050 target without accelerated clean energy access.
- Market Modernization
- The pace at which electricity markets adapt to improve corporate renewable energy procurement.
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