Climate action remains a key priority for the global mobile industry, with operators reducing operational carbon emissions by 13 percent over the past five years despite surging demand for mobile connectivity and data services, according to a new report by the GSMA.
The Mobile Net Zero 2026: State of the Industry on Climate Action report found that operational emissions fell by five percent in 2024 alone and by 13 percent between 2019 and 2024, even as mobile connections increased by 10 percent and data traffic more than quadrupled during the period.
The report, which analysed energy and emissions data from more than 110 mobile operators representing 85 percent of global mobile connections, said the industry’s progress has been driven by improved energy efficiency, network modernisation and wider adoption of renewable energy.
However, it warned that the current pace of emissions reduction is not sufficient to keep the sector on track to achieve its science-based target of reducing emissions by 45 percent by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.
According to the GSMA, renewable energy remains the biggest driver of emissions reductions. Mobile operators generated or purchased about 70 terawatt-hours of renewable electricity in 2024, while the share of electricity sourced from renewables rose from 10 percent in 2019 to 24 percent last year.
John Giusti, chief regulatory officer at the GSMA, said the industry’s progress demonstrates that expanding digital connectivity does not have to come at the expense of climate action.
“The mobile industry continues to demonstrate that economic growth, digital connectivity and climate action can go hand in hand. Operators are connecting more people, carrying more data and supporting digital economies around the world while still reducing emissions,” he said.
Giusti noted that while the progress is encouraging, access to renewable energy remains one of the biggest factors determining how quickly operators can decarbonise.
He called on policymakers to create conditions that support investment in clean energy infrastructure, modernise electricity markets and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy.
The report also showed that climate commitments across the industry continue to increase. As of June 2026, 81 mobile operators had adopted near-term science-based emissions targets, representing nearly half of global mobile connections and more than two-thirds of industry revenue. Fifty operators have also committed to net zero targets, with 46 already validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
The GSMA estimated that the industry’s operational emissions stood at 115 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2024, accounting for around 0.2 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Preliminary data also suggests emissions could decline by another three percent in 2025.
Regionally, Europe and North America recorded the strongest progress, cutting operational emissions by more than half between 2019 and 2024. Latin America reduced emissions by 40 percent, sub-Saharan Africa by 30 percent, while emissions in Greater China declined for the first time, falling by seven percent in 2024 due largely to increased renewable energy use.
Despite these gains, the report identified supply chain emissions, known as Scope 3 emissions, as the industry’s biggest climate challenge, accounting for around three-quarters of its total carbon footprint. It also highlighted tower companies as a significant opportunity for decarbonisation through greater adoption of solar energy, battery storage and improved energy management.
The GSMA urged mobile operators to continue improving energy efficiency, phase out legacy networks, expand renewable energy use and strengthen collaboration with suppliers, while calling on governments to adopt policies that accelerate renewable energy deployment, liberalise electricity markets and recognise telecommunications networks as critical infrastructure for national resilience and sustainable economic growth.
