BT Recognized by The Climate Group for Leadership in Driving Carbon Reduction Improvements

NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BT is one of eight business and government organizations highlighted in this year's Climate Week NYC, the annual global forum which aims to mobilize an international public-private response to climate change and to stimulate transformational action on the low carbon economy by helping bring about the "Clean Revolution" – the massive upscale of smart technologies, design and new business practices to tackle climate change.

In a case study authored by The Climate Group and presented during the Opening Ceremony for Climate Week NYC, BT was recognized for having taken a "pioneering, values-driven stance on carbon reduction… [The company] has set bold targets and has pursued continuous improvement in its energy reduction measures."

The report states: "The ICT sector is at the forefront of developing and implementing technologies that will be central to the Clean Revolution.  These smart energy technologies, together with measures to reduce the energy footprint of the sector, could reduce global emissions by as much as 15% by 2020(1)…Through its everyday business, BT is acting as catalyst for the Clean Revolution: first by demonstrating itself how emissions can be reduced while still maintaining growth; and second by providing the tools and technology to enable others to follow."

Mark Kenber, CEO of The Climate Group, said:  "By realizing the opportunities in the low carbon economy, BT is not only driving its own business growth but is also helping to secure a better, smarter, safer, more prosperous world.  BT's example proves that The Clean Revolution is not only possible – it's already underway."  

"The fundamental basis for our long term commitment to sustainability is to reduce our negative effects on the environment, hand in hand with cost reduction, and leverage our experience to help our customers enhance their sustainability through innovative products and services(2)," said Richard Tarboton, Director of Energy and Carbon Program, BT Group.

BT has set comprehensive and ambitious targets across a wide spectrum of sustainability indicators including carbon and energy.  Since 1997, it has achieved a 59% cut in net CO2 emissions.  By 2020, BT aims to reduce its net CO2 emission intensity by 80% compared to 1997 levels.  The company is investing in a major upgrade of its systems to measure and control energy use across the network, by installing smart meters, building control systems and integrated energy management platforms in all its key buildings.  In 2011, the company saved more than $28 million through its energy savings program by finding innovative ways to reduce energy use.

Founded in 2004, The Climate Group works internationally with government and business leaders to advance the smart policies, technologies and finance needed to cut global greenhouse gas emissions and unlock a Clean Revolution.  In its third year, Climate Week NYC brings together The Climate Group, Carbon Disclosure Project, China Center, the United Nations Global Impact, the UN Foundation, The City of New York, and an array of international business, government, non-profit and thought-leaders to call for urgent action against climate change.

For more details on the Clean Revolution and the full BT case study, go to: www.cleanrevolution.org.

(1)  The Climate Group & Global e-Sustainability Initiative (2008) Smart 2020

(2)  BT's Sustainability Practice has created a portfolio of products and services to help business customers build a sustainable organization, cutting costs, power use and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and other environmental impacts.  These services include:

• a carbon impact assessment and a professional services smart grid offerings in the U.S.
• Services that make customer ICT more efficient, such as our virtual data centers. These provide efficient, on-demand virtual computing services for customers without the need for them to invest in their own infrastructure, cutting costs, power use and CO2 emissions
• flexible working solutions that improve customer service and reduce office space needs. Based on our own experience, customers can avoid up to 1.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions for every employee who works from home.
• Intelligent buildings and energy management services, which centralize customers' building services to cut operational costs, improve environmental performance, and provide a more secure and comfortable workplace.

(3)  Kevin Moss shares his thoughts about the intersection between Information Communication Technology (ICT) services, business and sustainability on his blog "CSR Perspective." www.csrperspective.com

About BT

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries.  Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services.  BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

In the year ended 31 March 2011, BT Group's revenue was 20,076m pounds sterling with profit before taxation of 1,717m pounds.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.  BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. 

For more information, visit www.btplc.com.

SOURCE BT