Regulators working on environmental issues

While environmental sustainability is a new topic for National Regulatory Authorities (NRA), some regulatory actions under the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) and sector-wide directives seem to have a positive impact in limiting the sector’s adverse effects on the environment, particularly regarding the mutualisation of infrastructure, civil work coordination and spectrum management. Moreover, some NRAs have developed additional actions on sustainability in cooperation with Other Competent Authorities when appropriate.

In 2020, the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) started to develop its knowledge regarding the topic of environmental sustainability within the digital sector. In addition to academic research and studies, BEREC interacts with external parties in order to gain knowledge and expertise across different aspects of Information and Communications Technology sustainability and identify existing initiatives. It has organised multiple expert workshops for the NRAs to bring forward the latest findings from the industry, research organisations and academia, as well as Non-Governmental Organisations and consumer organisations, among others.