Join us to learn about how France’s regulatory authority for electronic communications, Arcep, is collecting environmental data across the ICT sector to inform decision making and how Arcep’s approach can serve as a model for other regulators worldwide.
Key findings from a new World Bank and ITU case study of Arcep will be presented and discussed with regulators from Brazil, South Africa and Zambia.
Find the report Here
Find the presentation Here
1-For Arcep-Based on ARCEP's data collection experience, what were the primary technical and non-technical challenges encountered during interactions with mobile operators?
Arcep encounters a variety of technical and non-technical challenges, which are broader than those typically encountered during interactions with mobile operators. These challenges include :
Non-technical challenges:
The first non technical challenge may be to identify the stakholders concerned by the data collection when they are not regulated actors. Also, one of the main non-technical challenges is to ensure that the surveyed stakeholders are engaged and committed. Arcep has built a collaborative framework with the survey, to discuss the relevance of the indicators and to understand what data is available. It is also essential to consider what is proportionate to ask for and what is not, and to determine the appropriate threshold for data collection in order to ensure efficiency while keeping it proportionate.
Once the data has been collected, data verification is an important challenge to avoid mistakes, even if some uncertainty may remain about the data collected. To limit potential errors, it is essential to verify the data by comparing it with market data and data from different sources, or by speaking directly to respondents.
Technical challenges:
In terms of technical challenges, an important issue concerns the calculation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in particular the differences in the methodologies used, such as, for scope 2 emissions, the market-based approach versus the location-based approach. Arcep has chosen to present the results using both methodologies in order to provide a comprehensive view. Scope 3 emissions is also problematic (this subject is covered in detail in the answers to the following questions).
Another technical challenge is measuring the lifespan of equipment.
2-For Arcep-How do you address double accounting in scope 3 emissions?
Arcep collects and publishes data on Scopes 1 and 2. Data has already been collected for scope 3, but many companies have yet to complete or refine their scope 3 calculations. Work on neutralising double counting will be carried out once the calculation of scope 2 has been made more reliable.
3-For Arcep-Arcep seems to lean heavily on surveys. Could you elaborate on how the data gathering process can or should be improved re both quality and efficiency/cost?
Environmental indicators might be complex for companies to calculate (e.g. scope 3 GHG emissions).
To improve the quality of the data transmitted and the cost of verification, it is necessary to support companies in calculating these indicators.Arcep co-bulds its data collections by consultative processes. For example, in order to extend the data collection to digital devices manufacturers and data center operators, Arcep conducted around 40 bilateral exchanges and 4 multilateral workshops with a wide range of stakeholders (including environmental and consumer associations and industry representatives) to gather their views on the relevant indicators that could be included in the data collection. It is also important to leave sufficient time for collaboration and co-construction approach. Arcep also works closely with the industry in the data collection process.
4-For Arcep-What is the toughest challenge in measuring the emissions? is it reporting? if so, how would you improve reporting for a second edition of the data collection process?
One of the major challenges in calculating emissions is to collect the full scope 3 without double counting. Arcep has chosen to collect this information from the first year of data collection in order to encourage companies to calculate scope 3. However, some companies do not yet calculate scope 3 exhaustively
5-For Arcep-Which ways adress increase energy consumption by AI using?
Arcep collects data from datacenters as well as telecom operators on the energy consumptions of their infrastructures and equipments. Such data are a prerequisite to assess the impact of the use of AI on energy consumption but would need to be complemented by data from AI suppliers. Arcep is currently considering how to question these players over the next few years.
6-For Arcep-Could you give some considerations on the uncertainties of your methodology?
There are always methodological uncertainties in data collection, especially in recently initiated data collections. This is even more the case for environmental indicators that are often difficult to calculate, such as the scope 3 GHG emissions mentioned in response to a previous question.
To overcome these difficulties, Arcep's approach is to create common definitions, to evaluate and verify the data collected and to exchange a great deal with the companies that respond.
7-For Arcep-Are telcos the most impactful within the value chain ? Didn't ARCEP and ADEME showed it is terminal equipments and datacenters?
Yes it's true.he updated Ademe arcep study shows that terminals account for 50% of the digital sector's carbon footprint, data centres 46% and networks 4%..But all the studies show that there is an interdependence between the various building blocks of digital technology and the digital services they support. Their dynamics influence each other’s. Thus, it is critical to look at the big picture. Everyone involved and taking their part in making digital technology sustainable. This interdependence must therefore be considered when developing public policies aimed at the digital environmental footprint as a whole.
8-For Arcep-Dear Anne Yvrande-Billon, Do you have any plans on refining and expanding on the methodology? e.g. do you plan to guide companies in their data collection to increase the accuracy of Arcep's methodology?
We are constantly refining and expanding our methodology by working with companies on a daily basis to understand the data, how they calculate the indicators and how they interpret changes in these indicators.
9-For Arcep-Hi, are you measruing the carbon footprint during the construction phase also? Any plans to use iot devices or other mechanisms to automate data collection? any independent validation of data using other approaches like remote sensing etc?
Yes, we collect the cabone footprint during the construction phase also, for example, from terminal manufacturers or network equipment suppliers.We don't have plans to use iot devices or other mechanisms to automate data collection which could go against European laws (for example GDPR). Each indicator is compared to all available data sources and shared with all stakeholders before publication.
