Over 130 representatives from business, NGOs and government gathered in central London yesterday to join BT’s Chief Executive Ian Livingston at the launch of BT’s Net Good programme. The event marked the unveiling of the company’s pioneering carbon abatement methodology which was reviewed, refined and endorsed by the Carbon Trust and Camanoe Associates (researchers from MIT). The methodology has been developed to help BT achieve its 3:1 2020 goal to help customers reduce carbon emissions by at least three times the end-to-end carbon impact of BT’s business.
The Carbon Trust was selected to provide expert input to review BT’s Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions, and the carbon abatement potential of BT’s products and services out to 2020. Following this, BT worked with The Climate Group and the Carbon Trust on a stakeholder consultation to gather formal feedback from Industry experts.
BT Net Good’s 3:1 goal is based on the premise that BT is directly responsible for emissions resulting from its own operations (for example network, offices, commercial fleet and company cars) but also bears responsibility for emissions at both ends of its value chain: in its supply chain (producing the products and services it buys) and from its products and services when used by BT customers.
To measure progress towards the goal, BT has created a transparent methodology to help measure the two components of the goal: BT’s end-to-end carbon impact and the potential of BT’s products and services to reduce its customers’ carbon footprints. BT now wants to share the methodology with other businesses and industries to help them move forward with their carbon abatement efforts and use their feedback to shape further evolution of the methodology.
Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust (second from left), with representatives from Small World Consulting, The Climate Group, BT and Sainsbury's, at the launch of BT's Net Good programme.
Ian Livingston said: “Proud as we are of our own record, doing less environmental damage is no longer enough. We are moving beyond simply making our own business more resource-efficient to using products and services to help our customers do the same. Communication technology has a significant role in helping create a better future by enabling businesses and individuals to use resources efficiently.”
Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust commented: “The Carbon Trust welcomes BT’s pioneering approach in setting this ambitious goal, and the detailed approach that has been followed in analysing and calculating the carbon abatement potential of its products and services. This builds on BT’s 20 year history of measuring its carbon impact and putting sustainability at the core of its business strategy. Making the framework widely available to the business community further demonstrates BT’s commitment to making this approach work.”
Mark Kenber, CEO of The Climate Group, said: “Net Good is not another form of corporate responsibility; it’s a new way of doing business. The Climate Group is delighted to be working with BT and other businesses at the forefront of innovation to help them adopt Net Good practices, engage stakeholders and achieve tangible, measurable change in the communities they operate in. This is the way forward – and BT’s leadership will hopefully inspire other businesses to follow”.
More information on BT’s Net Good methodology can be found here http://www.btplc.com/Purposefulbusiness/Energyandenvironment/Our31methodology/index.htm
