LONDON, June 18, 2025 — The GSMA’s fifth annual Mobile Net Zero report, released today, indicates that the mobile industry’s operational emissions decreased by 8% between 2019 and 2023. This reduction occurred despite a 9% increase in mobile connections and a quadrupling of data traffic.
The mobile sector has successfully begun to separate emissions from the growth of data and connectivity. This contrasts sharply with global emissions, which have risen by 4% since 2019.
However, to maintain this progress and stay on course for net zero by 2050, emissions must decrease by 7.5% each year until 2030, which is more than double the average annual rate achieved thus far.
Key findings include:
- Early data for 2024 suggests a further 4.5% decrease in emissions. This is faster than in previous years but still falls short of the 7.5% annual reduction needed until 2030.
- In 2023, 37% of the electricity used by operators reporting to CDP came from renewable sources, preventing 16 million tonnes of emissions.
- 81 mobile operators, representing almost half of global connections, have established or committed to science-based targets.
- Europe (-56%), North America (-44%), and Latin America (-36%) have seen the largest reductions in operational emissions between 2019 and 2023.
- Data from China indicates a 4% decrease in operational emissions in 2024, marking the first recorded decline.
The accelerated decarbonization is a result of operators working to improve network energy efficiency, switch to clean energy sources like solar and battery storage, and reduce their dependence on diesel generators.
These findings will be used to guide discussions at in China, a country with over one billion 5G connections. Preliminary data for 2024 shows a 4% year-on-year reduction in operational emissions, driven by a more than fourfold increase in renewable energy use by operators. As the industry’s largest single market, China’s advancement is crucial for reaching global net zero goals.
Steven Moore, Head of Climate Action at the GSMA, stated: “Our data demonstrates that the mobile industry is taking concrete action rather than just making empty promises. While emissions are moving in the right direction, we need to double the speed of our efforts.
“This requires a global effort, and it’s encouraging to see progress in every region, from Latin America to Europe, and especially in China.
“To maintain this momentum, we need wider support, including better access to renewable energy, clearer policies, and stronger collaboration across the entire ecosystem. Climate transition plans will play an increasingly important role in guiding our future actions.”
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