The manufacturing, energy and utilities, transportation and buildings sectors account for 80% of the total global CO2 emissions. Switching to renewable energy will not be enough for these industries to reach net zero by 2050. More ambitious, wide-reaching action is needed.
GSMA Intelligence and Nokia have produced a whitepaper to explain how mobile and digital technologies will allow businesses to meet their decarbonization targets quicker – whether it’s by rethinking liquid cooling techniques or switching to electric vehicles.
Inaction is not an option
Since the year 2000, we have seen 19 of the hottest years on record. And with higher temperatures come extreme weather events and catastrophic results for people and the planet. What can governments, businesses, and societies do to stop the climate emergency? We all have a responsibility to build a more sustainable future. Mobile and digital technologies, such as 5G, cloud, automation, and AI, can play a crucial role, allowing businesses to boost productivity while significantly reducing emissions. But a transformation on this scale requires careful planning and commitment.
Manufacturing: smarter, more productive
Connected smart factories hold the key to the manufacturing industry reducing its current emissions of roughly 16 gigatons of CO2 per year. Automating production lines, reducing plastic use in production, and – developing a viable circular economy are helping decarbonize the manufacturing industry.
By moving to smart factories, leveraging IoT devices and automating labor-intensive tasks, our research suggests potential annual productivity and energy savings gains of 10-20% by 2030.
Energy & Utilities: switched on to sustainability
For the energy and utilities sector to reduce its emissions, a holistic approach is needed. A global switch to solar and wind grids could reduce CO2 emissions by 3 gigatons and 1.1 gigatons respectively by 2030. But equally important are efficient distribution techniques and enabling consumers to make informed energy decisions via smart meters.
What’s next?
It is clear that digitalization is crucial to helping industries reduce emissions at the rate required to reach net zero by 2050.
Mobile connectivity can help make factories more productive and more efficient, as well as enabling consumers to reduce their energy use via smart meters and management systems.
But technology cannot build a sustainable future alone. A growing number of governments and businesses have committed to carbon neutrality, but strategies must be backed by planned targets and actionable plans. We must all act together to ensure there are #NoBoundaries to achieving a sustainable future.