The telecommunications sector is growing fast as demand for faster networks and greener operations rises. Telecom giants like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are competing for market share while also racing toward their net-zero and sustainability goals. They are facing pressure to balance business growth with environmental responsibility.
This article looks at each company’s financial results for Q1 2025. It also highlights their progress towards net-zero and their efforts to reduce environmental impact.
Verizon: Strong Financials and Focused Sustainability Goals
Financial Highlights:
- Revenue: $33.5 billion (1.5% increase year-over-year)
- Net Income: $5.0 billion (up from $4.7 billion in Q1 2024)
- Adjusted earnings: $12.6 billion (4% year-over-year growth)
- Wireless Service Revenue: $20.8 billion (2.7% increase year-over-year)
Steady Revenue Growth and Operational Efficiency
Verizon posted a solid financial performance in Q1 2025, with revenues of $33.5 billion, marking a 1.5% year-over-year growth. This growth came mainly from the wireless segment. Wireless service revenue grew by 2.7%, hitting $20.8 billion.
The company’s net income also grew to $5.0 billion, compared to $4.7 billion in Q1 2024, reflecting a steady increase in profitability. Verizon’s adjusted earnings hit $12.6 billion. This is a 4% rise from last year. It shows how well the company controls costs and runs operations efficiently.

Verizon continues to show growth in its wireless business, with notable increases in its total customer base. The company focuses on 5G technology. Its strong position in the U.S. wireless market sets it up for more revenue growth.
The telecom’s strong finances let it reinvest in its infrastructure, innovation, and sustainability efforts.
Scaling Up Renewable Energy and Emission Reductions
Verizon aims for net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. This goal matches the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The company has already made significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint.
By the end of 2023, Verizon had reduced its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 44% and its Scope 3 emissions by 20% compared to a 2019 baseline. These cuts come from Verizon’s energy efficiency programs. They also result from investments in renewable energy and efforts to engage the supply chain.

Verizon’s renewable energy commitments are particularly ambitious. The company has signed 28 renewable energy purchase agreements (REPAs). These agreements will provide about 3.6 gigawatts of expected generating capacity.

Verizon’s renewable energy target aims for 50% of its energy consumption to be sourced from renewable sources by 2025 and 100% by 2030.
The telecom giant’s energy-saving efforts have modernized data centers and network systems. Since 2018, this has helped avoid over 93 million metric tons of CO₂e.
The company supports its efforts by focusing on sustainable products. It also helps industries use renewable energy. Other major sustainability and net-zero initiatives of this telecom titan include:
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Green Bond Financing: Verizon was the first U.S. telecom company to issue green bonds, raising $6 billion to fund renewable energy projects, energy efficiency improvements, and other sustainability initiatives.
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E-Waste Recycling and Circular Economy: In 2023, Verizon reused or recycled nearly 47 million pounds of electronic waste, including 1.3 million pounds of plastic and 1.9 million pounds of lead-acid batteries. The company strives to divert 100% of e-waste from landfills through reuse and responsible recycling.
- Tree Planting Initiative: As part of its environmental stewardship, Verizon has committed to planting 20 million trees worldwide by 2030.
AT&T: Robust Financials and Growing Sustainability Efforts
Financial Performance:
- Revenue: $30.63 billion (2% increase year-over-year)
- Net Income: $4.7 billion (up from $3.39 billion in Q1 2024)
- Adjusted earnings: $11.5 billion (4.4% year-over-year growth)
Gains in Wireless and Fiber Performance
AT&T showed strong financial results for Q1 2025, with total revenues reaching $30.63 billion, a 2% increase year-over-year. This growth was driven by the success of its wireless and fiber broadband offerings.
Postpaid phone net additions hit 324,000. Fiber subscriber additions reached 261,000, which shows strong customer demand. The company’s net income for the quarter was $4.7 billion, up from $3.39 billion in the same period last year, indicating improved profitability. AT&T’s adjusted earnings also saw a healthy increase of 4.4% year-over-year, reaching $11.5 billion.

AT&T’s growth in fiber and wireless customers shows it can grow its market share. This happens even in a tough, competitive market. The company continues to focus on broadband and 5G growth as key drivers of its future performance.
AT&T aims to keep its momentum going. Its investments in 5G, fiber optics, and upgrading the network should help boost financial growth in the next few quarters.
Targeting Carbon Neutrality with Supplier and Customer Engagement
AT&T’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its goal to achieve carbon neutrality across its global operations by 2035. To date, the company has reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by nearly 52% from a 2015 baseline.
- AT&T’s science-based targets aim to reduce these emissions by 63% by 2030.

The company aims for 50% of its suppliers to set science-based GHG reduction targets by 2024. By the end of 2023, 55% of them had already done this.
AT&T’s renewable energy efforts have been a critical component of its sustainability strategy. As of 2023, the company sourced 25.7% of its electricity from renewable energy, up from 20% in the previous year.
The telecom titan has made great strides in its Connected Climate Initiative. This program helps business customers lower their carbon footprint. This initiative has helped avoid 227.2 million metric tons of CO₂e by the end of 2024 (or 38.9 million metric tons of CO₂e for that year). The long-term goal is to cut 1 gigaton (or 1 billion metric tons) of CO₂e by 2035.

AT&T is also investing in sustainable products and services. This includes energy-efficient data centers and energy-saving solutions for customers.
In 2024, AT&T agreed to purchase carbon dioxide removal credits from 1PointFive, the carbon capture unit of Occidental Petroleum. These credits will come from 1PointFive’s Stratos direct air capture facility. The plant could capture up to 500,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually when operational.
The telecom giant also has the following net-zero efforts:
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Energy Efficiency and Network Optimization: The company drives operational and network energy efficiencies by updating systems and decommissioning obsolete assets to reduce annual energy consumption.
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Low-Carbon Fleet Transition: AT&T aims to reduce fleet emissions by at least 76% by 2035, investing in electric vehicles (EVs) and the necessary infrastructure to support them.
T-Mobile: Impressive Financials and Industry-Leading ESG Initiatives
Financial Results:
- Revenue: $20.89 billion (6.6% increase year-over-year)
- Net Income: $3.0 billion (24% increase year-over-year)
- Adjusted earnings: $8.26 billion (up from $7.65 billion in Q1 2024)
Leads in Revenue Growth and Customer Additions
T-Mobile is doing well financially. For Q1 2025, they reported revenues of $20.89 billion. This is a 6.6% rise compared to last year. Net income surged 24%, reaching $3.0 billion, driven by strong operational performance.
The company also saw a 29% increase in earnings per share (EPS), which reached $2.58 for the quarter. T-Mobile added 495,000 postpaid phone customers, further bolstering its market position.
The company’s adjusted earnings were $8.26 billion, up from $7.65 billion in Q1 2024. This shows its strong financial health and skill in managing costs while also investing in growth.

T-Mobile’s success comes from its strong leadership in wireless. It focuses on growing its 5G network. The company can attract and keep customers, especially in postpaid and fiber broadband, which helps it succeed in the tough U.S. market.
Setting Industry Pace with Bold Net-Zero and Green Energy Goals
T-Mobile aims high with its ESG goal. It plans to reach net-zero emissions for its entire carbon footprint by 2040. This target, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), reflects the company’s serious commitment to reducing its environmental impact.

As of 2023, T-Mobile has reduced its total Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 30% compared to 2020 levels. This includes sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable energy, a milestone it has maintained since 2021.

T-Mobile has also made significant strides in improving energy efficiency. For example, the company has reduced its energy consumption per petabyte of data by 62% since 2019.
T-Mobile has started a big effort to collect and recycle old devices. By 2023, they recovered 10 million devices for reuse, resale, or recycling. T-Mobile invests in big wind and solar projects. These help the company reach its clean energy goals.
The telecom company also employs these initiatives to boost its net-zero journey:
- Network Optimization: Decommissioned tens of thousands of macro cell sites resulting from the integration of the Sprint network and retired legacy technologies to reduce energy consumption.
- Energy-Efficient Technologies: Replaced traditional air conditioning units at cell sites with direct air-cooling systems and implemented software features to optimize energy use based on network traffic demands.
- Collaborative Commitments: Signed The Climate Pledge, joining a global initiative to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, and participates in RE100 and the EPA Green Power Partnership to promote renewable energy adoption.
Telecom’s Net-Zero Race: Who Steals the Show?
Verizon leads in revenue and net income. But in terms of ESG and net-zero commitments, T-Mobile is clearly leading, with its 2040 net-zero target and aggressive renewable energy goals. This includes sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.
Verizon follows closely, with a 2050 net-zero target and substantial progress in reducing its carbon emissions. AT&T has made progress in cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions. However, it falls short in renewable energy use at 25.7%. In contrast, Verizon is at 34.4%, and T-Mobile leads with 100%.

Verizon and AT&T have ambitious strategies. However, T-Mobile stands out because it focuses on energy efficiency, device recycling, and renewable energy investments. Its complete approach and strong focus on cutting its carbon footprint give it an edge in measurable ESG progress.
The telecommunications industry’s major players are making notable strides in balancing financial performance with environmental responsibility. T-Mobile emerges as a leader in sustainability, while Verizon and AT&T continue to strengthen their ESG efforts.
As the telecom industry evolves, these three companies’ net-zero and sustainability commitments will play a crucial role in shaping corporate responsibility and environmental success.
- FURTHER READING: How To Reduce Scope 3 Emissions: Key Strategies That Work
The post Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile: Who Wins the Financial and Net Zero Race? appeared first on Carbon Credits.
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How Climate Change Is Raising the Cost of Living
Americans are paying more for insurance, electricity, taxes, and home repairs every year. What many people may not realize is that climate change is already one of the drivers behind those rising costs.
For many households, climate change is no longer just an environmental issue. It is becoming a cost-of-living issue. While climate impacts like melting glaciers and shrinking polar ice can feel distant from everyday life, the financial effects are already showing up in monthly budgets across the country.
Today, a larger share of household income is consumed by fixed costs such as housing, insurance, utilities, and healthcare. (3) Climate change and climate inaction are adding pressure to many of those expenses through higher disaster recovery costs, rising energy demand, infrastructure repairs, and increased insurance risk.
The goal of this article is to help connect climate change to the everyday financial realities people already experience. Regardless of where someone stands on climate policy, it is important to recognize that climate change is already increasing costs for households, businesses, and taxpayers across the United States.
More conservative estimates indicate that the average household has experienced an increase of about $400 per year from observed climate change, while less conservative estimates suggest an increase of $900.(1) Those in more disaster-prone regions of the country face disproportionate costs, with some households experiencing climate-related costs averaging $1,300 per year.(1) Another study found that climate adaptation costs driven by climate change have already consumed over 3% of personal income in the U.S. since 2015.(9) By the end of the century, housing units could spend an additional $5,600 on adaptation costs.(1)
Whether we realize it or not, Americans are already paying for climate change through higher insurance premiums, energy costs, taxes, and infrastructure repairs. These growing expenses are often referred to as climate adaptation costs.
Without meaningful climate action, these costs are expected to continue rising. Choosing not to invest in climate action is also choosing to spend more on climate adaptation.
Here are a few ways climate change is already increasing the cost of living:
- Higher insurance costs from more frequent and severe storms
- Higher energy use during longer and hotter summers
- Higher electricity rates tied to storm recovery and grid upgrades
- Higher government spending and taxpayer-funded disaster recovery costs
The real debate is not whether climate change costs money. Americans are already paying for it. The question is where we want those costs to go. Should we invest more in climate action to help reduce future climate adaptation costs, or continue paying growing recovery and adaptation expenses in everyday life?
How Climate Change Is Increasing Insurance Costs
There is one industry that closely tracks the financial impact of natural disasters: insurance. Insurance companies are focused on assessing risk, estimating damages, and collecting enough revenue to cover losses and remain financially stable.
Comparing the 20-year periods 1980–1999 and 2000–2019, climate-related disasters increased 83% globally from 3,656 events to 6,681 events. The average time between billion-dollar disasters dropped from 82 days during the 1980s to 16 days during the last 10 years, and in 2025 the average time between disasters fell to just 10 days. (6)
According to the reinsurance firm Munich Re, total economic losses from natural disasters in 2024 exceeded $320 billion globally, nearly 40% higher than the decade-long annual average. Average annual inflation-adjusted costs more than quadrupled from $22.6 billion per year in the 1980s to $102 billion per year in the 2010s. Costs increased further to an average of $153.2 billion annually during 2020–2024, representing another 50% increase over the 2010s. (6)
In the United States, billion-dollar weather and climate disasters have also increased significantly. The average number of billion-dollar disasters per year has grown from roughly three annually during the 1980s to 19 annually over the last decade. In 2023 and 2024, the U.S. recorded 28 and 27 billion-dollar disasters respectively, both setting new records. (6)
The growing impact of climate change is one reason insurance costs continue to rise. “There are two things that drive insurance loss costs, which is the frequency of events and how much they cost,” said Robert Passmore, assistant vice president of personal lines at the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. “So, as these events become more frequent, that’s definitely going to have an impact.” (8)
After adjusting for inflation, insurance costs have steadily increased over time. From 2000 to 2020, insurance costs consistently grew faster than the Consumer Price Index due to rising rebuilding costs and weather-related losses.(3) Between 2020 and 2023 alone, the average home insurance premium increased from $75 to $360 due to climate change impacts, with disaster-prone regions experiencing especially steep increases.(1) Since 2015, homeowners in some regions affected by more extreme weather have seen home insurance costs increased by nearly 57%.(1) Some insurers have also limited or stopped offering coverage in high-risk areas.(7)
For many families, rising insurance costs are no longer occasional financial burdens. They are becoming recurring monthly expenses tied directly to growing climate risk.
How Rising Temperatures Increase Household Energy Costs

The financial impacts of climate change extend beyond insurance. Rising temperatures are also changing how much energy Americans use and how utilities plan for future electricity demand.
Between 1950 and 2010, per capita electricity use increased 10-fold, though usage has flattened or slightly declined since 2012 due to more efficient appliances and LED lighting. (3) A significant share of increased energy demand comes from cooling needs associated with higher temperatures.
Over the last 20 years, the United States has experienced increasing Cooling Degree Days (CDD) and decreasing Heating Degree Days (HDD). Nearly all counties have become warmer over the past three decades, with some areas experiencing several hundred additional cooling degree days, equivalent to roughly one additional degree of warmth on most days. (1) This trend reflects a warming climate where air conditioning demand is increasing while heating demand generally declines. (4)
As temperatures continue rising, households are expected to spend more on cooling than they save on heating. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that by 2050, national Heating Degree Days will be 11% lower while Cooling Degree Days will be 28% higher than 2021 levels. Cooling demand is projected to rise 2.5 times faster than heating demand declines. (5)
These projections come from energy and infrastructure experts planning for future electricity demand and grid capacity needs. Utilities and grid operators are already preparing for higher peak summer electricity loads caused by rising temperatures. (5)
Longer and hotter summers also affect how homes and buildings are designed. Buildings constructed for past climate conditions may require upgrades such as larger air conditioning systems, stronger insulation, and improved ventilation to remain comfortable and energy efficient in the future. (10)
For many households, this means higher monthly utility bills and potentially higher long-term home improvement costs as temperatures continue to rise.
How Climate Change Affects Electricity Rates
On an inflation-adjusted basis, average U.S. residential electricity rates are slightly lower today than they were 50 years ago. (2) However, climate-related damage to utility infrastructure is creating new upward pressure on electricity costs.
Electric utilities rely heavily on above-ground poles, wires, transformers, and substations that can be damaged by hurricanes, storms, floods, and wildfires. Repairing and upgrading this infrastructure often requires substantial investment.
As a result, utilities are increasing electricity rates in response to wildfire and hurricane events to fund infrastructure repairs and future mitigation efforts. (1) The average cumulative increase in per-household electricity expenditures due to climate-related price changes is approximately $30. (1)
While this increase may appear modest today, utility costs are expected to rise further as climate-related infrastructure damage becomes more frequent and severe.
How Climate Disasters Increase Government Spending and Taxes
Extreme weather events also damage public infrastructure, including roads, schools, bridges, airports, water systems, and emergency services infrastructure. Recovery and rebuilding costs are often funded through taxpayer dollars at the federal, state, and local levels.
The average annual government cost tied to climate-related disaster recovery is estimated at nearly $142 per household. (1) States that frequently experience hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, or flooding can face even higher public recovery costs.
These expenses affect taxpayers whether they personally experience a disaster or not. Climate-related recovery spending can increase pressure on public budgets, emergency management systems, and infrastructure funding nationwide.
Reducing Climate Costs Through Climate Action
While this article focuses on the growing financial costs associated with climate change, the issue is not only about money for many people. It is also about recognizing our environmental impact and taking responsibility for reducing it in order to help preserve a healthy planet for future generations.
While individuals alone cannot solve climate change, collective action can help reduce future climate adaptation costs over time.
For those interested in taking action, there are three important steps:
- Estimate your carbon footprint to better understand the emissions connected to your lifestyle and activities.
- Create a plan to gradually reduce emissions through energy efficiency, cleaner technologies, and more sustainable choices.
- Address remaining emissions by supporting verified carbon reduction projects through carbon credits.
Carbon credits are one of the most cost-effective tools available for climate action because they help fund projects that generate verified emission reductions at scale. Supporting global emission reduction efforts can help reduce the long-term impacts and costs associated with climate change.
Visit Terrapass to learn more about carbon footprints, carbon credits, and climate action solutions.
The post How Climate Change Is Raising the Cost of Living appeared first on Terrapass.
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