• The ICT & Mobile sector is responsible for 1.4% (730Mt) of global CO2e equivalent emissions. Of which 50% is from user devices, 25% from IT networks and 22% from data centres and enterprise networks. Entertainment and Media (e.g. TVs, TV networks and media devices) contribute a further 1.2% (640Mt) CO2e (Malmodin & Lundén, 2018).
• 80% of the ICT footprint is from the use of electricity (in all lifecycle stages). So if 80% of the ICT sector and its users switch to decarbonised electricity by 2030, sector emissions will approximately halve between 2020-2030, aligned with a 1.5C science based pathway (Sources, ITU L.1470 GHG trajectory, ICT SBTI pathway).
• A report collecting data for a wide range of ICT companies found that among the evaluated companies in 2020 approx 30% ICT sector electricity came from renewable sources (ITU, 2022).
• Recent analysis from the GSMA found that operator networks in 41 countries are now using at least 75% renewable electricity with networks across Europe using the most renewable electricity at 71% on average.

What is meant by decarbonised electricity?

• ‘Decarbonised’ or ‘renewable’ electricity has different definitions. The focus for the ICT sector should be in supporting new renewable energy capacity (as opposed to buying existing capacity). On-site renewables, hourly carbon-free energy or direct PPAs (power purchase agreements) that drive new wind/solar creation is preferred.
• Leading ICT & Mobile players are already at 100% renewable electricity and some companies are exploring further steps, such as Google’s 24/7 Carbon Free Energy initiative, focused on hourly carbon free energy of the grid.
• Challenges exist in accessing renewables in many countries:
  • China, South Korea and Japan are key to unlocking renewables inequipment manufacturing, as referenced by Samsung’s RE100 commitment from September 2022.
  • There is a need for policymakers to help ‘unlock’ access to renewables forcompanies in countries across LATAM, MENA, SSA and APAC