BT Rings Out Early Emissions Targets

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27 October 2017 | Updated 01 January 1970

BT has set new 2030 carbon emissions target after achieving its previous goal four years early. BT's target of an 80% reduction of its carbon emissions was due to be reached by 2020.

BT will now aim to reduce carbon emissions by 87% by 2030. As part of the transition to a low carbon business model, BT had previously set a target in 2008 of an 80% reduction of carbon emissions by 2020.

After reaching this target four years ahead of schedule, BT set a new 2030 target, approved by the Science-Based Targets Initiative, which is aligned with the most ambitious aim of the COP21 Paris Agreement. This aim seeks to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it even further to 1.5°C by the end of the century.

To meet the goal, BT will be targeting ways to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels, for example through the adoption of low carbon vehicles in its fleet and reducing the carbon intensity of buildings.

Announcing the target, BT Chief Sustainability Officer Niall Dunne said: “The role that technology can play in creating a more resource efficient world is both profound and exciting. The benefits of leading climate action extend to our customers, suppliers and people. Our commitment to this 1.5°C target will help create partnerships and coalitions that continue the unstoppable momentum enabled by the Paris agreement.”

Tom Delay, Chief Executive, the Carbon Trust commented: “Over the past two decades BT has made impressive progress in reducing carbon emissions. To continue this journey, our recent work together has mapped out the steps the business will need to take over the coming decades to become a truly low carbon business. The ambition contained within the Paris Agreement gives us hope that we might avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change. If we are going to deliver on this ambition then this is exactly the sort of leadership we need to see.”

Picture: BT will be targeting ways to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 27 October 2017

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