Sustainability has evolved from a buzzword into a core design principle for 6G, formally adopted in the ITU-R IMT-2030 framework and European strategic visions as an umbrella term encompassing environmental, social, and economic pillars. The industry now distinguishes between “Sustainable 6G,” which focuses on reducing the network’s own energy consumption and e-waste, and “6G for Sustainability,” which leverages the technology to solve broader global challenges. Despite historical debates over energy efficiency versus actual consumption, the sector is moving toward a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates diverse indicators beyond simple simulations to address complex trade-offs. While global standardization efforts faced resistance from some major stakeholders, the consensus now treats sustainability as a critical, non-competitive race against time to ensure future generations’ needs are met.
Source: https://www.6gflagship.com/news/sustainability-still-our-shared-priority/
Keywords: sustainable development, environmental indicators, social sustainability, energy consumption, multi-disciplinary approach