BT tough on emission cuts (7-Aug-07)

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BT tough on emission cuts (7-Aug-07)

BT’s head of climate change described the purchasing of offsets instead of cutting emissions oneself as an attempt to get off scot-free – something that BT will not promote. BT claims to have saved tens of thousands of tonnes of CO₂ by using videoconferencing.

Donna Young, the head of climate change at BT, believes that every company needs to start taking environmental responsibility by reducing their carbon emissions. To help in reducing their emissions BT has started a program to encourage their 160,000 employees to reduce their own carbon emissions both at home and at work. To help in engaging employees and the community BT used climate change road shows and carbon busters clubs.

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TECHNOLOGY companies need to tread lightly on the environment for the sake of the future sustainability of the planet as well as their bottom lines.

British Telecom climate change head Donna Young said every company, including technology companies, needed to start taking responsibility for reducing carbon emissions.

It was not just a matter of purchasing offsets, such as tree-planting programs, Ms Young said. BT had started a program to empower its 106,000 employees to reduce their own carbon emissions at work and at home, he said.

Ms Young described purchasing offsets instead of cutting emissions as an attempt to go scot free - something BT would not promote.

The telecommunications sector was both a villain and a hero on the emissions issue, she said.

"We can provide products that help reduce everyone's carbon footprint, such as videoconferencing - but as the sector keeps growing and the product cycles get faster, the industry footprint grows," she said.

Ms Young described the process as a "path of enlightened interest" because there was plenty of money to be saved in going green.

BT had more than 70 per cent of employees working flexibly some or all of the time and it had saved tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon just by using videoconferencing, she said.

BT has also achieved a 42 per cent reduction in waste to landfill. Many government agencies and companies had contacted BT for advice on how to engage the community and employees on climate change, she said.

Strategies BT has used in engaging employees and the community include climate change roadshows and clinics, carbon-busters clubs and creative challenge awards.

BT has also developed a carbon calculator so people can calculate their carbon footprint.

• Source: Australian IT