Attending MWC 2024 in Barcelona was a fantastic experience. The energy, the innovation, the sheer volume of cutting-edge tech on display – it was truly a privilege to be part of it all. However, as representatives of a sustainable innovation strategy company, there were a couple of observations we wanted to share that could help make this already impressive event even better.
Diversity and Inclusion
One of the first things that struck us was the gender imbalance at the conference. While the event was bustling with energy and excitement, the majority of attendees seemed to be men (both older and younger). There also seemed to be a skew towards younger attendees, with a comparatively smaller presence of middle-age (or more) women. In an industry that is striving to be at the forefront of innovation, it’s crucial to ensure a more balanced and inclusive environment. We keep our fingers crossed that this will be possible in future versions of this event.
Sustainability in the Spotlight
Our team, particularly interested in sustainability, looked forward to sessions focused on green tech and sustainability topics. While we were happy to see some sessions dedicated to these critical areas, they were mostly relegated to late afternoon slots and stages that were off the beaten path. In contrast, the main stages seemed to be dominated by discussions about AI, 5G, and other advancements.
A Call for More Green
While the conference did include some sessions on green tech and sustainability, we believe these topics deserve a bigger platform. The sustainability challenges we face are some of the most pressing issues of our time, and the mobile industry has a significant role to play in developing solutions. We would love to see future MWC conferences dedicate more prominent space to these critical discussions.
The Opportunity in Sustainability
While there’s still a lot to be done in the tech industry when it comes to sustainability, we see this as a positive sign. The need for innovation in this area is vast, and the mobile industry is uniquely positioned to address it. Imagine the impact if the same level of energy and ingenuity directed towards AI and 5G were also channeled into developing sustainable solutions!
However, we can’t ignore the elephant in the room. The ever-growing demand for AI, 5G, and future advancements will undoubtedly lead to an increased strain on our energy resources. This highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions alongside these exciting technological leaps.
The good news is that the mobile industry itself is recognizing this challenge. The GSMA, a trade body representing the interests of mobile network operators, has made significant progress in promoting sustainability within the industry. Their “The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023” (https://sdgreport2023.gsma.com/) highlights the industry’s growing impact on each of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular progress in areas like Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7) and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9). The report also details how mobile operators are taking steps to reduce their emissions by 2030.
The Road Ahead
We’re confident that by fostering a more inclusive environment and prioritizing sustainability discussions, MWC can continue to be a leading forum for innovation that addresses the needs of the planet as well as the industry.
Green Agenda
Although the sessions on sustainability were not that popular, these few points devoted to ecological technologies and sustainable development were very interesting. Here are some examples of sessions we found relevant to our interests organised mainly by 4yfn (startup event):
- Green Tech Programme – Breathing Life into Green Tech Impact
- Green Tech Programme – Flowing Towards Sustainability
- Green Tech Programme – Cultivating Tomorrow’s Harvest
- Decarbonization and Cleantech
- Sustainability Summit: Sustainability, energy efficiency and circularity
We’d love to hear your thoughts on our experience at MWC 2024, and especially your ideas on how we can make the mobile industry a more sustainable and inclusive space. Share this post with your comment.
