LONDON, United Kingdom —
Telecom company BT announced a long-term goal of cutting its carbon emissions intensity 80 percent below 1996 levels by 2020.
The company will measure and track carbon emissions based on a new model endorsed by the Carbon Disclosure Project.
“At BT we recognize that it is our responsibility to grow in a sustainable way,” said BT’s Chris Tuppen, who developed the measurement model. “The Climate Stabilization Intensity (CSI) Target creates a relationship between BT’s CO2 emissions and its financial performance so that they become interdependent. It is a powerful tool for embedding sustainability into organizations worldwide and critical in effecting change.”
Jonathon Porritt, founder and director of Forum for the Future and chair of BT’s Advisory Panel, called the model a "groundbreaking" way of setting climate-related targets.
"If all companies adopted such a target we would be a long way towards fixing the problem of climate change,” Porritt said.
The target is tied to GDP, and not on absolute emissions reductions. The company said it will meet its goals by combining energy efficiency, purchased low-carbon power and renewable energy, such as using wind energy power a quarter of its U.K. electricity needs by 2016.
Between 1996 and 2008, the company reduced emissions 60 percent.