Almost all of the major players in the UK telecoms sector have set net zero targets, according to a new Digital Connectivity Forum (DCF) report.
Added to that, three quarters of firms have validated science-based targets, the research has found.
The report highlights that the anchor point for acting on sustainability is setting credible carbon reduction goals. These should involve clear targets and measurable outcomes, which can be used to report progress.
The DCF’s State of the Industry Report was based on survey results from 12 major telecoms companies, including network operators, ISPs and vendors.
The report highlights a positive and continued commitment to the net zero journey, with 11 out of 12 having set some form of net zero target, and 75 per cent having validated science-based targets.
Exploring levers to industry wide reductions, policy and regulatory change, grid decarbonisation, industry change, subsidy and incentives, standardisation and green skills adoption were highlighted as key contributors towards overall industry reductions.
Other key findings included:
• 70 per cent of respondents identified renewable energy transition as the largest driver for operational emissions decrease to date.
• 5 out of 11 identified fleet transition as a potential large-scale driver for Scope 1 and 2 reductions.
• 50 per cent have fleet transition targets.
• 90 per cent identified green skills gaps as a barrier.
The report’s publication follows the second annual UK Telecoms Sustainability Roundtable, which was held in June by the DCF, Ofcom and Accenture. The event followed on from last year’s initial kick-off session, where the UK’s largest connectivity providers came together to sign a statement of commitment, in which they agreed to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the telecoms supply chain.
At this year’s roundtable, which was attended by 24 sustainability leaders representing 16 companies from across the telecoms industry, eight priority areas were identified:
• Creating a net zero roadmap for the telecoms sector.
• Supplier engagement within competition law parameters to tackle Scope 3 emissions.
• Engaging senior leaders within telecoms firms on critical climate challenges and action.
• Understanding and improving climate resilience in a changing world.
• Common training standards to increase and align sustainability understanding across roles and departments.
• Understanding the barriers to electric vehicle adoption and creating a policy environment to encourage fleet switching.
• Life cycle assessment data improvement and understanding.
• Grid decarbonisation.
These areas have been evaluated by the DCF climate group members and will continue to be taken forward in discussion as to how to drive progress in the most impactful way, and in keeping with competition law rules.
Will Ennett, chair of the DCF Climate and Sustainability Work Group, said, “The members of the Digital Connectivity Forum Climate and Sustainability Working Group have recognised the urgency of climate change. As we face a world that is rapidly changing, many companies are already taking impressive action to curb their environmental impact and make a difference. I want to take this opportunity to thank all members for their enthusiastic collaboration, and to the Digital Connectivity Forum team for their tremendous dedication in creating this report.”
Ed Leighton, director of strategy and policy at Ofcom, said, “It was great to bring together telecoms providers for a second successive year, to reaffirm their shared commitment to reduce carbon emissions. I was impressed by the energy and ideas, with some clear areas of focus coming out of this year's roundtable – including more engagement at senior leadership level and creating a net zero roadmap for the telecoms sector.”