A new report has outlined the clear potential for mobile telecommunications technology to play a leading role in tackling climate change by driving carbon reductions across a range of industry sectors, AMTA Chief Executive Chris Althaus said. However, the future of the mobile sector’s contribution will depend on the allocation of new radiofrequency spectrum infrastructure for mobile telecommunications given that a low carbon future will use mobile data solutions, including mobile broadband and the deployment of machine-to-machine (M2M)applications.

The report: Carbon Connections: Quantifying mobile’s role tackling climate change was undertaken in Europe by Vodafone and Accenture. It says although there has been discussion about the potential for ICT to reduce carbon emissions there has been little detailed quantification on how it can be achieved.

Mr Althaus said the report provided a valuable contribution to the current debate on the economics of climate change and the huge potential role mobile telecommunications has to play in helping create a low-carbon economy.

The report says mobile technology could cut Europe’s annual energy bill by at least $A61 billion and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 113Mt CO2 equivalent by 2020. This represents 18% of the United Kingdom’s annual CO2e output in 2008 and approximately 2.4% of expected EU emissions in 2020.

Mr Althaus said: “The report importantly points out that policymakers must make the ‘carbon connection’ between ICT and climate change and understand the important role it can play in tackling climate change.”

The Vodafone-Accenture report says ICT can make a major contribution in tackling climate change by eliminating the need for physical products or activities through the effective use of ICT products or services and enabling smart applications that improve energy efficiency through real-time monitoring and control of processes.

Wireless telecommunications enable this to be done remotely and on the move using cellular connections. Machine-to-machine (M2M) communications will play a major role, says the report.

The report outlines 13 opportunities in five key areas for potential emissions abatements, including:

Replacing physical goods, processes or travel with “virtual” alternatives, such as video-conferencing or e-commerce (shopping online)

Smart grid and smart logistics solutions. These include improving the efficiency of electricity grids through active monitoring; wireless devices monitor losses and load capacity of the electricity transmission and distribution network; smart meters to encourage end users to adjust daily electricity use and smooth consumption peaks, allowing energy providers to optimize grid loading. Smart logistics included wireless vehicle tracking devices that feed data to a central fleet management system to optimize speeds and routing; onboard telematics data from vehicle sensors used to plan predictive maintenance and encourage fuel-efficient driving.

The report says the smart machine-to-machine (M2M) services represent 80% of carbon savings and “dematerialization” (replacement of physical goods) accounts for the remaining 20% of the potential energy savings.

Mr Althaus said: “We know from local studies, including our own from Access Economics, that mobile telecommunications punches above its weight because it is an enabler that drives productivity gains throughout the economy.

“This new study clearly shows that it can also play a key enabling role in helping to cut greenhouse emissions and deliver cost reductions to businesses.

“Of course, this great potential is predicated on the bottom-line need for access to suitable radiofrequency spectrum to allow the mobile telecommunications industry to assist in moving towards a low-carbon economy.”

The Government’s Green Paper on Digital Dividend is expected to be released soon.