Kaixuan Wang

As the rollout of 5G accelerates, its soaring energy demand poses a growing climate challenge. According to a World Bank Group report, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is responsible at least 1.7 % of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study examines an intelligent suite of energy-saving methods—particularly deep reinforcement learning sleep modes, adaptive RIS, and cluster-zooming cell-free MIMO at the network edge, alongside dynamic power adjustments on user devices—and quantifies their environmental impact using an ICT-focused environmentally extended input-output (EEIO) model. Anchored in the UK’s 2019 economic and emissions data, the model captures both production and consumption effects across 33 sectors. Results spotlight two standout strategies—AI-powered base station sleep control and refined user device signaling—as catalysts for deep, economy-wide CO2 reductions. Notably, the financial, IT services, and programming sectors benefit most from these ripple effects. Our findings outline practical paths towards greener 5G deployments and underscore policy opportunities to amplify their socioeconomic value.

The UK government is seeking new food trade partners post-Brexit, with a focus on international meat trade to ensure supply chain stability while minimizing economic, environmental, and social damages. A UK Meat Trade-centred World Input-Output Model (UK-MTWIO) is developed with an innovative RAS method to assess the multiple impacts of different meat import scenarios. The results highlight the interdependence of meat types within the UK agricultural sector and the effects on other countries. Environmentally, most scenarios show the potential for reducing GHG emissions in the global agricultural sector. As for animal welfare, the UK can get higher animal welfare performance under beef import scenarios but suffer animal welfare losses with other scenarios. These findings underscore the intricate relationship between environmental, economic, and animal welfare impacts of global food trade. Policymakers should take a comprehensive approach and collaborate with all trading partners toward a more ethical and sustainable future.