What's BT doing?

Everybody's Business

Ten months' work by a CBI task force of 18 chairmen and CEOs from some of the UK's biggest companies resulted in the publication of a report, 'Climate Change - Everyone's Business' at the end of November.

We came together to identify the actions necessary to tackle climate change.
Our companies represent nearly every sector of British industry; employ nearly 2million people; generate annual revenues of approximately £1trillion.

The message is clear. Climate change has to become everybody's business, with everybody taking action to reduce their carbon (CO2) emissions. The report also clearly demonstrated that the economy can grow - and be green.

For this to happen, politicians must give a greater priority to the subject; consumers need the right information to help them buy environmentally friendly products; and businesses must be green.

BT wants to be a leader in the new low carbon economy. For example, our communications technology reduces the necessity for people to travel to work - which in turn reduces carbon emissions.

That said, our products also produce emissions. While our contribution to CO2 emissions in the UK is 60% lower than the levels we had in 1996 - we aim to reduce them further to achieve an 80% reduction by 2016. Our planned wind farms will generate up to 25% of BT's UK electricity requirements by 2016. Carbon reduction plans are being developed for operations world-wide.

Small things count. Close down PCs properly; turn off lights in empty rooms; don't leave appliances on standby; think twice before printing; use the recycling bins that are starting to appear in BT buildings.

By doing both the big and the small things, we can all be part of the climate change solution.