MTN leads green shift, eyes zero net carbon emissions by 2040

By Christabel DANSO ABEAM

 MTN Ghana has rolled out biodegradable SIM cards and adopted solar energy across its major facilities as the company seeks to achieve a carbon-free future by 2040.

Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer-MTN Ghana Adwoa Wiafe, at the MTN Sustainability Week launch in Accra, said sustainability has progressed beyond a corporate social responsibility to “a core strategic pillar for businesses, sustainability, viability and longevity going forward”.

She revealed that the telco’s zero initiative project has already begun as its head office and data centres are fully powered by solar, with other investments in energy-efficient technologies to reduce carbon emissions.

This year’s Sustainability Week, aligning with the opening of COP30 in Brazil, will feature exhibitions showcasing circular economy innovations – including recycling plastics into useful products for business and the community.

“We are going to be having some panel discussions with partners on how we can all work together to achieve the goals set, a beach cleaning exercise and a pledge campaign that encourage employees and stakeholders to adopt the culture of sustainability across industries,” she emphasised.

A key highlight of MTN’s move to environmental sustainability is the introduction of biodegradable SIM cards which are priced the same as already existing ones.

Ms. Wiafe said: “Nothing has changed, it has just become greener. It is made up of biodegradable products both in terms of the packaging and metal components, which are very friendly to the environment.”

The Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer further reiterated the company’s commitment to continuous innovation and collaboration with stakeholders to advance its environmental, social and governance goals.

Technical Advisor-Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Cedric Dzelu, on behalf of the ministry commended MTN Ghana’s efforts to promote sustainability.

Speaking on the event’s theme, ‘Sustainability, Our Collective Responsibility – Driving Impact, Deepening Responsibility’, he indicated that sustainability has evolved from a corporate social responsibility (CSR) issue to a core economic and business survival strategy.

“Sustainability is no longer CSR-adjacent. It is no longer an optional programme line. It is now a strategic pillar for national development, for business continuity, for resilience and for competitiveness. We have reached a point where sustainability is not a reputational exercise – it is a business survival strategy,” he established.

Mr. Dzelu further stressed climate volatility effects on economic variables – stating that it affects capital, supply chains, logistics, insurance, labour productivity, market access and cost of borrowing.

On private sector collaboration, he championed partnerships, innovation and co-investment as key vehicles through which Ghana can scale sustainability from commitment to industrial reality.

He also indicated that the ministry stands ready to work with the private sector in three specific ways:

A co-design of policy pathways that reflect market reality and business competitiveness; alignment of national sustainability targets with corporate sustainability strategies for Ghana to pull in one direction; and leveraging sustainability as a trade advantage.

He also advised that corporates that recognising sustainability is not a burden but a lever for reduced operational risk; improved international finance readiness; strengthened supply chain stability; lower cost of capital; and long-term shareholder value.

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