Dana Cramer

The wireless crisis: Increasing digitization while reducing emissions

Co-authored with Kevin Hudes

Abstract:
Each sector of the economy, and those sectors’ corresponding regulators, are working to identify opportunities for decarbonization in the face of the climate crisis. The telecommunications sector is in a unique position within decarbonization discourse as the green transition has been coupled with the digital transition, thereby making a green and digital twin transition. Not all countries’ decarbonization policies are able to capture the telecommunications industry. This sector is not a significant emitter, directly, however through indirect effects of greater energy using technologies it has the capacity to enhance carbon emissions. This paper analyzes the wireless telecommunications sector’s path to decarbonization and notes opportunities for both government stakeholders, and companies themselves, to take in the effort to battle the climate crisis.