--- title: "Earth Day 2025: What cities can do now to cut carbon emissions" description: Smart streetlighting cuts emissions and supports clean energy goals. Learn how Telensa enables cities to build more sustainable infrastructure. image: https://blog.telensa.com/hubfs/Telensa%20LinkedIn%20(43).png --- Connecting a Safer, Smarter Tomorrow. [![Telensa](https://www.telensa.com/wp-content/themes/Telensa/img/logo.svg)](https://www.telensa.com/) - Products - [What we offer](https://www.telensa.com/solutions/smart-streetlights/) - [Telecell Control Node](https://info.telensa.com/data-sheet-telecell) - [Ultra Narrow Band (UNB) Network](https://info.telensa.com/data-sheet-unb) - [Central Management System](https://info.telensa.com/planet-cms-application) - Markets - [Municipalities](https://www.telensa.com/markets/municipalities/) - [Utilities](https://www.telensa.com/markets/utilities/) - [Parks and Ports](https://www.telensa.com/markets/parks-and-ports/) - Insights - [Case studies](https://www.telensa.com/case-studies/) - [Blog](https://blog.telensa.com/) - [News and Events](https://www.telensa.com/news-and-events/) - Company - [About us](https://www.telensa.com/company/about-us/) - [Careers](https://www.telensa.com/company/careers/) - [Contact](https://www.telensa.com/contact/) # Earth Day 2025: What cities can do now to cut carbon emissions ![](https://blog.telensa.com/hubfs/Telensa%20LinkedIn%20(43).png) [Telensa Editorial Team](https://blog.telensa.com/author/telensa-editorial-team) on 22 April 2025 ![Picture of Telensa Editorial Team](https://blog.telensa.com/hubfs/Telensa_social%20media_icon-02.png) This year’s Earth Day theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” is a global call to accelerate the shift to clean energy and create a future built on sustainability. As climate challenges intensify, this moment calls for practical, scalable action to reduce emissions and transition toward more sustainable systems. The urgency is real – global CO2 emissions rose to a record [37.4 billion metric tonnes](https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-global-co2-emissions-will-reach-new-high-in-2024-despite-slower-growth/#:~:text=Carbon%20dioxide%20(CO2)%20emissions%20from,previous%20record%2C%20set%20in%202023.) in 2024, according to the Global Carbon Project. The IPCC has warned that to limit global warming to [1.5 ºC](https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/) degree, global emissions must be halved by 2030. ![](https://5499288.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/5499288/hubfs/AdobeStock_201074452.jpeg?width=1200&length=1200&name=AdobeStock_201074452.jpeg) While global carbon emissions reached a record high in 2024, there are promising signs of progress. In the UK, greenhouse gas emissions fell by [4% last year](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/27/uk-carbon-emissions-fell-by-4-in-2024-official-figures-show)—thanks to reduced use of coal and gas in electricity generation and industry. Notably, [the UK also recorded its cleanest energy mix ever](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/02/uk-electricity-cleanest-ever-in-2024-with-record-58-from-low-carbon-sources), with 58% of electricity generation coming from low-carbon sources, including wind, solar, and nuclear energy.    Smart infrastructure plays a critical role in this transition. In street lighting, implementing smart control systems allows cities to get the most from their LED upgrades- delivering features like remote management, adaptive dimming, and real time diagnostics.  These systems can help achieve up to 70% energy savings when paired with LED technology, significantly reducing energy use and operational emissions.  At Telensa, we’ve seen the results. Our project with [Leicestershire County Council](https://www.telensa.com/news/transforming-leicestershires-lightscape-flexible-streetlight-management-with-telensas-smart-cms-solution/) helped cut emissions from streetlighting by 84% over 12 years, providing that meaningful progress is achievable when smart solutions are applied at scale.     To align with Earth Day’s mission, industries can take the following actions:  - **Modernise infrastructure** with energy-efficient technologies; IEA estimates that smarter urban infrastructure can reduce municipal CO2 emissions by [30-40%](https://www.iea.org/reports/empowering-cities-for-a-net-zero-future).  - **Transition to renewables** and phase out fossil fuels. The IRENA 2024 report shows renewables are now cheapest source of power in two – thirds of the world.  - **Use data to drive efficiency**: Digital systems enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and better asset utilisation.   - **Commit to lifecycle sustainability**: consider emissions from production, deployment and end-of-life, not just energy use.     As we mark Earth Day 2025, the message is clear: the tools for change exist- and the responsibility to act is shared. At Telensa, we continue to support cities in building cleaner, smarter, and more resilient communities through innovation in lighting technology.   - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [Back to Blog](https://blog.telensa.com/) - - - **Americas Region**Telensa Inc. **Email**[sales@telensa.com](mailto:sales@telensa.com) **HQ and EMEA Region**Telensa Limited Iconix 3 London Road Pampisford Cambridge CB22 3EG UK **Sales & General**+44 (0) 1223 677050 **Support**+44 (0)1799 399200 **Email**[sales@telensa.com](mailto:sales@telensa.com) **Asia Pacific Region**Signify Innovations Australia Pty Ltd **Email**[sales@telensa.com](mailto:sales@telensa.com) **© Telensa 2026** - [Terms of use](https://www.telensa.com/terms-of-use/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.telensa.com/privacy-policy/) - [Cookie Notice](https://www.telensa.com/cookie-notice/) **[Contact](https://www.telensa.com/contact/)** - [Americas Region](https://www.telensa.com/contact/#offices) - [HQ and EMEA Region](https://www.telensa.com/contact/#offices) - [Asia Pacific Region](https://www.telensa.com/contact/#offices) ![](https://www.telensa.com/wp-content/themes/Telensa/img/footer-logos-v5.png) Cookie Settings