The GSMA's latest Mobile Net Zero report shows the mobile sector is starting to make real environmental progress – but to stay on track for net zero by 2050, emissions cuts need to speed up big time.
A positive trend, a pressing need
Between 2019 and 2023, the mobile industry cut operational emissions by 8% – even as mobile connections grew 9% and data usage exploded 4x. That's a solid step forward – and a sharp contrast to global emissions, which actually rose 4% over the same time.
Mobile Net Zero report shows momentum is building. | Image credit – GSMA
Still, to hit net zero by 2050, the pace needs to more than double. Emissions must fall 7.5% per year until 2030 – so far, we're not even close.
Quick hits from the GSMA report:
2024 is off to a decent start: emissions are estimated to be down another 4.5%.
37% of electricity used by mobile operators came from renewables in 2023, up from just 13% in 2019.
81 operators (covering almost half the planet's mobile connections) have committed to science-based climate targets.
Operational emissions dropped in most regions between 2019 and 2023, with Europe leading the way at -56%. North America followed with a 44% cut and Latin America trimmed 36%.
Greater China, on the other hand, saw an 8% increase during that time – but early 2024 data shows a nearly 4% drop. If that trend holds, it could be a game changer globally, since China is the world's biggest smartphone market.
Our findings show the mobile industry isn't greenwashing or greenwishing – it's green acting. Emissions are trending in the right direction, but the pace of progress must now double. This is a global effort, and it's encouraging to see momentum building across every region – from Latin America to Europe and especially to China.
– Steven Moore, Head of Climate Action at the GSMA, June 2025
A huge chunk of emissions still comes from power use. Operators like T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T used 290 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2023 alone – roughly 1% of global energy use. That includes running networks, stores, data centers and even EV fleets.
But the big elephant in the room? Scope 3 emissions – things like phone manufacturing and supply chains – make up over two-thirds of the industry's total carbon footprint. And they're still a mess to track.
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The good news: more people want greener tech. Nearly 90% of users care about repairability and longevity and almost half say they'd consider a refurbished phone. Refurbs generate up to 90% fewer emissions and the second-hand phone market is booming – expected to hit $150 billion by 2027.
Would you buy a refurbished phone just to lower your environmental impact?
Yes – sustainability matters to me.
16.67%
Maybe – if the price and condition are right.
33.33%
Probably not – I prefer new tech.
33.33%
Nope – I don’t factor that into my buying decisions.
16.67%
The green shift is bigger than numbers
Video credit – GSMA
So, why should we care about this? Well, it's pretty simple: the networks powering your life – yes, I'm looking at you, T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon – are major players in this global effort. Their commitment (or lack thereof) to sustainability directly impacts our planet's future, and let's be honest, it's increasingly becoming a competitive battleground, too.
But, still, it's not all about carbon cuts. There's also growing attention on "energy justice" – making sure these green shifts also benefit underserved communities. Sustainability isn't just a tech problem – it's a people problem, too. And being aware of what each company does is a good idea.
The mobile world is stepping up – but can it keep up?
It's honestly pretty exciting to see the mobile industry – usually slammed for being wasteful – start making real moves on sustainability. Seeing emissions drop while data usage keeps climbing shows there's some serious behind-the-scenes innovation happening.
It shows that innovation doesn't just mean a faster chip or a better camera; it can also mean a greener network.
That said, the hard part is still ahead. The GSMA report makes it clear: cutting emissions twice as fast and cracking down on those giant Scope 3 numbers won't be easy. And it's not just about throwing up more solar panels (though, hey, that helps). It's about rethinking how phones are made, where the parts come from, and what happens when we're done with them.
For us, that means looking a little closer at which brands and carriers are actually doing the work. Would I pick a phone or a plan based on how green it is? If the performance and price are solid, too – definitely. Sustainability should quickly become part of the decision-making checklist.
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Tsveta, a passionate technology enthusiast and accomplished playwright, combines her love for mobile technologies and writing to explore and reveal the transformative power of tech. From being an early follower of PhoneArena to relying exclusively on her smartphone for photography, she embraces the immense capabilities of compact devices in our daily lives. With a Journalism degree and an explorative spirit, Tsveta not only provides expert insights into the world of gadgets and smartphones but also shares a unique perspective shaped by her diverse interests in travel, culture, and visual storytelling.
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