One third of the global wireless industry, by revenue, has committed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, according to the industry trade group GSMA. Moreover, almost two-thirds of the mobile sector has established targets to cut emissions rapidly during this decade.

“As an industry, we are serious about our ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. There is no time to waste. That’s why we are acting now with 65% of the industry committed to reaching, over this decade, science-based targets that rapidly cut emissions,” Mats Granryd, director general at GSMA, said in a statement.

“The mobile sector clearly demonstrates that, when at least 20% of a market moves, change accelerates,” he added.

The industry lobbying group and event organizer, in a new annual report released this week, reports that mobile operators covering 50% of global mobile connections and 65% of revenues have committed to science-based targets.

A study conducted by GSMA concluded that the mobile industry is currently responsible for about 0.4% of carbon emissions globally. It also noted that 5G specifications call for a 90% reduction in energy use. 

Wireless carrier carbon-neutral commitments on an individual basis are nuanced and varied.

AT&T last year committed to be carbon neutral by 2035. It highlighted six initiatives underway to achieve that goal, including network function virtualization, a transition to a low emissions fleet, expansive energy efficiency projects, sustainable film and TV production, renewable energy purchases, and broader investment in carbon offsets.

T-Mobile US claims it's on track to power its business and network with 100% renewable energy by the end of this year. It is the only U.S. carrier so far to sign the global RE100 pledge, which aims to shift the world’s largest businesses to 100% renewable energy. 

T-Mobile was also the first major telecom company to make the commitment in 2018. This Earth Day, the company shared plans to donate $300,000 to The Nature Conservancy’s forest restoration efforts.

“It’s encouraging to see a company rise to this unique challenge by setting and keeping ambitious deadlines to rapidly embrace the transition to a more sustainable future,” Amy Davidson, the North American executive director of the Climate Group, said in a statement.

“This is the decisive decade of climate action and business leadership will remain paramount to ensure we are securely on a path to a safe climate by 2030,” she added.

Verizon also broadened its environmental impact activities this week leading up to Earth Day. The operator pledged to reduce its operational emissions by 53% by 2030 and said it will reduce its value chain emissions by 40% by 2035.

The company also shared a new goal to avoid 20 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions annually by 2030. It plans to meet that pledge by removing more than 4.3 million passenger vehicles from America’s roads annually. The company claims to have avoided 12 million metric tons of CO2e last year.

Finally, the operator reiterated its 2019 commitment to achieve net-zero operational emissions by 2035, and said it will source or generate renewable energy equivalent to half of its annual power consumption by 2025.

“Our climate commitments and goals are ambitious, but the steps we’re taking now to reduce our carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy will help us become net zero in our operations by 2035,” James Gowan, SVP and chief sustainability officer at Verizon, said in a statement.