The demand for connectivity and digital services has exploded in the 21st century – with digitisation now engrained in the fabric of our society. With that comes an enormous increase in demand for the telecommunications infrastructure and services, and for the applications and technologies to navigate the digital world in a useful, reliable, safe and sustainable way. 

As Australia’s largest telecommunications provider, Telstra sees a significant opportunity to help customers and society transition to a lower carbon future by accelerating the adoption of innovative emissions-avoiding technologies. From piloting experimental tech at their carbon farm, leveraging smart digital technologies in their telecommunications networks, to partnering with not-for-profits to offer their expertise – Telstra is showcasing how tech has a critical role to play in helping businesses reduce their emissions.

Telstra has been operating for over 100 years with their mobile network covering 99.5% of the Australian population. They believe in using their scale and influence to not only improve how they do business, but they are also focused on empowering their customers, partners and society at large to do the same.

Telstra supporting more than $1 billion of renewable energy projects is not the only testimony to Telstra’s effort. They have committed to reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, against an FY19 baseline, and across scope 1-3 emissions. Recognising the need to take urgent action to reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere, Telstra became carbon neutral in its operations in 2020. Additionally, they are the largest Climate Active certified organisation in Australia, while continuing to work towards a goal of decarbonisation.

The Enabling Positive Climate Action Report by Deloitte* analyses the impact of Telstra’s products and services has on helping their customers reduce emissions and lower their environmental impact. 

It finds that by 2030, their digital technology solutions will help their customers reduce emissions by 6.9 times greater than the volume of those Telstra emits*. Over the next decade to 2030, Deloitte projected that Telstra could cumulatively help customers avoid over 41 million tonnes of CO2e – equivalent to about 1% of the average annual reduction in emissions required to meet Australia’s reduction target of 43% below 2005 levels by 2030*.

There are some strong technology use cases here. To name a few –

• IoT has the potential to optimise agriculture, logistics, fleet management as well as reduce fuel use and use energy more efficiently and reducing emissions.  
• Cloud – we know that switching from on-premise to cloud computing can save a business up to 80% of their computing related emissions. 
• Smart heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems automate the processes to regulate energy use and in doing so increase energy efficient and reduce emissions 
• Climate smart agriculture provides technology solutions that efficiently manage agricultural assets. Connectivity enables IoT sensors and robotics to increase production, use water more wisely and reduce waste 

Telstra are also partnering with not-for-profit and for-purpose organisations to provide their technology, skills and expertise to do more collectively for the planet and for our communities.