Why Vodafone has joined the European Green Digital Coalition

In support of the Green and Digital Transformation of the EU, Vodafone today announces it is proud to become a founding member of the European Green Digital Coalition. This Coalition brings companies like us, together with policymakers and experts, to help drive investment in, and implementation of, digital solutions in action against climate change.

What is the European Green Digital Coalition?

Corporate members of the Coalition – a group of telecommunications and technology companies – sign a declaration in which they commit to jointly setting a standard for carbon enablement and working with other sectors such as transport, energy and agriculture to unlock the power of green digital solutions.

At the same time as the launch of the Coalition, EU Member States made a commitment^[1] to accelerate the green digital transformation and use the European Commission’s pandemic recovery funds, a key instrument helping the EU emerge stronger and more resilient following the crisis.

Why is Vodafone joining the European Green Digital Coalition?

At Vodafone, we believe that business success should not come at a cost to the environment, and that we can help society decarbonise. That is why we have set science-based carbon emission reduction targets for 2030, and committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2040. We have also committed to enabling the reduction of 350m tonnes of carbon emissions between now and 2030 through our IoT solutions for businesses.

Today’s announcement further supports our aim of building and enabling a digital society that enhances socio-economic progress and inclusion for all.

It is only through working together that we can deliver Europe’s ambition to reach climate neutrality by 2050 while ensuring we develop a sustainable, more inclusive digital society for all. This coalition is a unique opportunity for businesses, EU institutions and national governments to do just that – and we are ready to play our part.

The path to net zero: addressing Vodafone’s carbon footprint

The largest share of Vodafone’s carbon footprint comes from electricity use. We are addressing this as quickly as infrastructure and regulation allows us to, and we are working to ensure our electricity use does not increase despite a huge rise in demand for data across our networks.

By July 2021, 100% of the electricity we use for our European Gigabit network will be powered by renewable sources, expanding to our global network by 2025.

We are also addressing the emissions that are outside our direct control, like those from our supply chain. Vodafone now evaluates suppliers based on their commitments to the environment, and provides SME suppliers with extra guidance on sustainable practice. .

How digital can help other sectors become more sustainable

Connectivity and digital solutions can support EU and industrial ambitions for climate action. At Vodafone, we have pledged to help our corporate customers reduce their emissions by 350 million tonnes by 2030 – the equivalent of Italy’s entire carbon footprint in 2019 – by implementing new technologies and digital solutions.

In Guadalajara (Spain), for example, we have connected 13,500 LED streetlights to a central management system, helping reduce energy consumption by 68%.

Our automotive IoT technologies are delivering cuts in fuel consumption of up to 30% for our corporate customers, helping optimise route management, vehicle maintenance and more efficient driving behaviour for fleets.

And for businesses in the agricultural sector, our IoT solutions can measure humidity, soil health and water absorption, enabling farmers to use irrigation and fertilisers far more efficiently.

These are just a few examples of our work in this area, but each shows the contribution digital solutions and connectivity can have towards a more sustainable future.

Learn more about Vodafone’s Purpose and Planet commitments.

[1] - ”A Green and Digital Transformation of the EU”, signed by EU Member States on 19/03.