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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Monday recommended to set the target for reduction in carbon emissions by the telecommunication sector as 30 per cent by 2019-20 and 40 per cent by 2022-23, taking the base year as 2011-12.
The targets should be reviewed in 2022-23 and telecom service providers (TSPs) should evolve a ‘Carbon Credit Policy’ in line with carbon credit norms, with the objective of achieving the reduction in carbon footprints, TRAI said in its recommendations on ‘Approach towards Sustainable Telecommunications’.
The accuracy level of the carbon footprint should be taken as adequate, based on self-certification by TSPs. No independent third-party audit of the carbon footprints is recommended in the current scenario, it said.
The telecom authority said the approach already adopted for calculating carbon footprints, including scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, should be continued.
“The report on carbon footprints should be submitted annually within 45 days after March 31 of every year in the proforma.
“The first report on the carbon footprint for the base year 2011-12 as per revised formula should be submitted within three months from the date of issue of the directions/instructions by the Department of Telecommunications,” the regulatory body said.
The TSPs should voluntarily adopt the renewable energy technology (RET) solutions, energy-efficient equipment and high-capacity, fast-charging storage solutions to meet the target.
It said the government should make necessary provisions mandating all telecom products, equipment and services in the telecom network to be energy- and performance-assessed and certified ‘Green Passport’ utilising the ECR rating and the Energy Passport determined.
“The above provision should be synchronised with the setting up of a lab and finalisation of test procedures by the Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC),” the telecom body added.
To address concerns of stakeholders, TRAI had issued a consultation paper on the subject on January 16 and requested for written comments.
In response, it received 23 comments and two counter comments.
An ‘Open House’ discussion was conducted on July 5, and after considering the submissions of the stakeholders and examining the issues in depth, the Authority has finalised these recommendations.
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