Connectivity and Climate Change > Recommendations

The report demonstrates how mobile connectivity – and particularly 5G – is crucial to net zero. However, to realise the potential of 5G, IoT, and related mobile technologies to help facilitate climate action, Governments and policy makers need to act now. More rapid deployment of these networks will help realise our climate targets more quickly.

Therefore, building mobile networks quicker will enable national and local government to realise their environmental goals sooner. In order to do this, policy and regulatory frameworks need to be right. To get these policy and regulatory frameworks right requires:

• Reform the Permitted Development Rights regime to enable fast and effective deployment of mobile infrastructure.
• Provide Government support for wider and more effective adoption of the reformed Electronic Communications Code
• Appoint of local authority digital champions to facilitate and assist mobile infrastructure rollout.
• Ensure that all Local Development Plans reference the importance of mobile infrastructure to economic development and social inclusion
• Require all public bodies to make their assets available for siting mobile apparatus on Electronic Communication Code Terms
• Introduce business rates relief for new mobile infrastructure development, especially in harder to reach areas.
• Continue to promote of full-fibre deployment to facilitate mobile and 5G rollout
• Action to be taken by the Government to incentivise take-up of technologies in key sectors that will benefit from 5G. This will enable the opportunities and technologies that 5G connectivity can facilitate to be realised more quickly and ensure that the role of mobile technology is better understood in the path to net zero.

5G-enabled technology could help the combined G7 manufacturing sectors reduce their total carbon emissions by 1% during the period 2020-2035 - roughly equivalent to 75% of the annual carbon emissions of France.