Global Warming: IoT can Help Reach Net Zero Goals

At its annual MWC event in Los Angeles, the GSMA consortium, which represents hundreds of mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, called upon business leaders and policymakers to harness the potential of mobile connectivity and smart technology to achieve net zero by 2050 and limit global warming to within 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Smart/IoT technology, GSMA maintains, could contribute 40% of the required carbon emissions savings for the world’s net zero goals. These connected technologies already exist. But today, new research from the GSMA, backed by the Carbon Trust, shows mobile connectivity and smart technology are significantly underused by energy-intensive industries, such as power and manufacturing. In the energy sector, connected technology is only used in around 35% of solar grids and 10% of wind grids globally. Connected technology is used in 1 percent of factories across the manufacturing sector globally. And yet, these technologies could help fulfil almost 40 percent of the cuts required in carbon emissions by 2030, if these industries are to reach net zero by 2050.
GSMA’s Director General, Mats Granryd, said: Global Warming

The risk is that without smart technology used widely, the world will miss 2050 net zero commitments. Business leaders and policymakers must act now to harness the power of mobile technology and connectivity as a key lever in the global race to net zero. As low and zero-carbon technology evolves, people might think we will need to rely on future technology solutions to meet net zero goals. At the GSMA, we disagree. We believe that many of the smart tools and technology needed to drive down carbon emissions, especially in the energy sector, already exist – they just aren’t being used to their full potential.

The GSMA research focuses on four energy-intensive industries, including energy, transport, buildings, and manufacturing. It shows how increased connectivity and mobile technology can enable global savings of around 11 gigatons of carbon emissions by 2030. These savings are the same as decommissioning 2,700 coal-fired power stations.

Author: Tim ColeGlobal Warming
Image Credit: Pixabay