Step this way to get your daily fix of green news, eco product launches and videos delivered by email.
Vodafone said this week that it will halve its carbon dioxide emissions by 2020, largely by making its networks more energy efficient.
The reduction will be measured against Vodafone's emissions in the 2006/07 period, which came to 1.23 million tonnes of CO2, the company said. According to Arun Sarin, the company's chief executive, the move is "the right decision for a responsible business to take".
"It is good for the environment but also makes sense for the business," said Sarin. "There are no simple solutions to what is a complex challenge but, through operational changes and technological innovation, we will focus on improving energy efficiency in our networks, which account for 80 percent of our emissions." Vodafone recently entered into a network-sharing agreement with Orange but, according to Vodafone, this will not factor significantly into the CO2-reduction goals since the agreement covers the sharing of mast sites, rather than base-station equipment.
The telephone giant also said it would be using renewable energies to contribute towards its goals -- with the type of renewable energy depending on the country in question -- and would only use carbon offsetting as a "last resort". The CO2 reductions will be measured in absolute terms, rather than being measured as relative to network traffic, a spokesperson stressed.
"This is a significant commitment from one of the world's largest companies," says Jonathan Porritt, founder of the Forum for the Future and an adviser for Vodafone on sustainability issues.
"With a simultaneous focus on the products and services that they offer -- and thus on helping their customers to reduce their emissions -- Vodafone has the opportunity to show real leadership. 2020 may sound a long way away, but it is what Vodafone does over the next two or three years which will determine whether or not they hit that 50 percent target."
Tom Delay, the chief executive of the Carbon Trust, also welcomed Vodafone's move, saying it was "what consumers expect and want to see from leading businesses in the UK and abroad".
Please note: Your email address must be entered but will not be displayed
Please note: All submitted content becomes the sole property of CNET Networks UK and may be used, edited or rejected at CNET Networks UK's sole discretion. You acknowledge that you, not CNET Networks UK, are responsible for the contents of your submission.
Step this way to get your daily fix of green news, eco product launches and videos delivered by email.
