@BT_Group
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Climate Love
Climate Review Score ranking:
BT
7 w
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Companies all over the world are feeling the pressure to be more sustainable from investors, customers, and policymakers. Despite this, IT strategies are an untapped tool for reaching climate targets. By utilizing three strategies that make use of technology for both the planet and profit, companies can embrace the power of IT and find themselves at the forefront of climate action. As we enter 2024, legal regulations and customer demands push companies toward more sustainable strategies. While direct emissions reduction strategies like transitioning to renewable energy or electrifying transportation are crucial, it is also imperative that companies utilize digital strategies to tackle some other difficult challenges, often at a financial gain. Digitalization is often discussed as a climate solution, but grasping what it means in practice can be a challenge. In this article, we highlight three ways that digitalization can help a company’s climate strategy: aligning your IT strategy with sustainability, cutting emissions in the supply chain, and identifying inefficiencies in your operations. Aligning your IT strategy with sustainability Many companies plan to increase their use of IT tools like data storage, Generative AI, and more, leading to the predicted growth of data traffic by 700% globally by 2030. The energy consumption associated with this, and the following carbon emissions, might make it harder for companies to reach their climate goals harder to achieve unless they rethink their IT strategies. As data traffic increases, data center efficiency will take the lead in reducing energy consumption. Companies can optimize server utilization, upgrade to energy-efficient hardware, and implement advanced cooling technologies in their data centers. But, reducing the carbon footprint of data storage might also require alternative options like renewable energy, or utilizing cloud-based computing environments. While cloud technology has existed for years, companies have been transitioning to virtual cloud computing environments that allow them to consolidate infrastructure into larger data centers provided by external actors, and thereby reduce their hardware footprint. Data centers provided by cloud providers are typically highly efficient, leading to energy savings and lower carbon emissions compared to having those services on the premises. Embracing cloud-based solutions also supports scalability, flexibility, and resource optimization – a win for both planet and profit. Cutting emissions in the supply chain It is typical for most of a company’s emissions to sit in its supply chain. Therefore, we’ll see more and more companies working with key suppliers that prioritize their carbon footprints. By doing so, companies will aim to mitigate the environmental impact of their entire chain. This collaboration will emphasize the importance of transparency and accountability across the supply chain. Companies will be keen to demonstrate progress using credible data, as customers and investors want to see a clear-cut plan with measurable targets, creating a path to sustainability. One aspect of supply chain emissions comes from shared digital infrastructures, enabling the cloud-based solutions mentioned earlier. Optimizing the digital infrastructure used for a company’s connectivity can significantly reduce its scope 3 emissions while increasing efficiency, reducing cost, and building a reputation among companies’ customers and stakeholders. It also wins the support of investors, who are keen to see strong environmental governance. Identifying inefficiencies across your operations Advancements in data analytics and artificial intelligence present new opportunities for companies to optimize their utilization of resources and reduce emissions. Businesses can use predictive analytics to optimize resource allocation, machine learning to identify inefficiencies and minimize waste generation, and utilize AI technology to monitor their performances in real time and create adaptive management strategies. For example: If your company utilizes a fleet of vehicles, switching to low-carbon alternatives like electric vehicles is one way to reduce your carbon footprint. But think about how AI can use advanced algorithms to analyze data like traffic patterns, real-time traffic conditions, weather forecasts, and road infrastructure to optimize transportation and delivery routes. These AI-enhanced insights can minimize travel times, reduce fuel consumption, and minimize emissions, aligning with a number of sustainability efforts. As an example, BT works with Geotab to help business customers optimise their fleet operations and reduce fuel use lowering their carbon footprint. These are only some of the ways IT can be used to boost a company’s sustainability performance. Moving forward, IT development will be defined by the imperative for more sustainability, and companies who want to be at the forefront of climate action will develop more and more efficient IT processes to help achieve this. Companies that embrace the intersection of technology and sustainability are paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future. This text is based on an article written by Sarwar Khan, Global Head of Sustainability for BT, and published in The Fast Mode.
BT
11 w
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- Pilots aim to extend usefulness of near end-of-life green street cabinets as EV charge points - Up to 60,000 street cabinets could be used in this way, tackling the current national shortfall in EV charging infrastructure - Pilot rollout to take place as almost two-thirds of people in the UK (60%) say they think that EV charging infrastructure is inadequate - First charger set to be installed in Scotland in the coming weeks United Kingdom. Monday 8th January 2024 - Etc., the startup and digital incubation arm at BT Group, announced that it will power up its first EV charging unit built from a street cabinet traditionally used to store broadband and phone cabling. The announcement marks the first step in the rollout of new technical trials, exploring the potential to upgrade up to 60,000 cabinets to help meet government sustainability targets and decarbonise the transport system in the UK. Developed to help solve EV charging infrastructure needs by repurposing existing street furniture, the pilots will explore how this solution could be scaled to address the lack of chargers on UK roads. With new BT Group research showing that more than a third (38%) would have an EV already if charging were less of an issue, and with only 53,000 public EV charge points currently on UK roads. the pilot marks an important step in the journey to net-zero. Etc. has announced its first installation location in East Lothian, Scotland, with further pilots to roll out across the UK in the coming months. Whilst the UK Government's ambitions are to increase the number of charge points from 53,000 today to 300,000 by 2030, access to charging is already creating a significant barrier to EV purchase for many. BT Group’s recent research found that 60% of people think the UK’s EV charging infrastructure is inadequate, with 78% of petrol and diesel drivers saying not being able to conveniently charge an EV is a barrier to getting one. Through the trials, Etc. will scope a range of different technical, commercial and operational considerations with bringing this EV charge point network online, including: - Technical – cabinet location, power availability, customer accessibility, digital customer experience and engineering considerations - Civil planning – location, local council engagement, permissions and physical accessibility - Commercial – public funding options, private investment, partnership, and wider financial modelling to establish a route to commercial benefit for the Group - Operational – as a dedicated BT Group venture or in partnership with others While in its early development stages, the initiative has already been celebrated on the global stage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), after being awarded an Innovation Honoree for 2024 for outstanding design and engineering. The charging solution works by retrofitting the cabinets with a device that enables renewable energy to be shared to a charge point alongside the existing broadband service with no need to create a new power connection. EV charging can be deployed to cabinets that are in-use for current copper broadband services, or in those due for retirement, depending on the space and power available to the unit. Once the cabinet is no longer needed for broadband, as nationwide full fibre rollout progresses, the broadband equipment is recycled, and additional EV charge points can be added. This allows re-use of existing infrastructure while deploying more charge points at pace. Whilst the pilot is being rolled out in the UK, EV charging infrastructure is a global challenge. The US, for example, has only 160,000 public EV chargers currently installed to serve over 2.4 million electric vehicles. Tom Guy, Managing Director, Etc. at BT Group says “Our new charging solution is a huge step in bringing EV charging kerbside and exploring how we can address key barriers customers are currently facing. Working closely with local councils in Scotland and more widely across the UK, we are at a critical stage of our journey in tackling a very real customer problem that sits at the heart of our wider purpose to connect for good.” “This is a key step in our mission to build products and services right now that work for the future, with positive transformation at the heart.” Learn more from the full press release on our website.
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This is a great impact toward green energy.Nonetheless,I love the idea.
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11 w
Oh very interesting. I love innovative solutions like these. Have you heard of Voltpost? They have a pretty similar product.
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I really love the idea of EV charges that are made from circular economy products. This is great
BT
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During our attendance at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023, our Head of Environmental Sustainability, Gabrielle Ginér spoke about how BT Group is collaborating to expand and scale its engagement with global supply chains and reduce supply chain emissions. Sharing the stage with fellow 1.5 Supply Chain Leaders, Ericsson, on Day 4 of the COP, we discussed how both a net zero company and a net zero supply chain can be achieved by actively working with other industry leaders on collaborative projects. The main challenge to reducing Scope 3 emissions, those emissions that lie beyond the actual operations of your company, is scale. BT Group alone has around “11,400 suppliers, so unfortunately we can’t engage with all of those directly”. However, by completing projects with Ericsson, such as what we did with Flex Poland, we can make progress. Why supply chain emissions are crucial for true net zero Reducing Scope 3 value chain emissions is crucial for any business with a large supply chain network. At BT Group, only around 6% of our emissions are directly generated by our operations. The remaining circa 94% come from the supply chain partners we work with and customers using our products and services. During our time onstage with Exponential Roadmap Initiative, who founded both the SME Climate Hub and the 1.5 Degree Supply Chain Leaders, Gabrielle commented “It’s where you can really have an impact and for me personally, it’s probably the most satisfying bit… because I can see changes being made in the supply chain. It’s a great area for collaboration, sharing best practices, and the cascade [of emissions reductions]”. One of the ways in which we do this is through our “purchasing power… being the customer and using your customer requirements to change supplier behaviour. When we look at our adjudication criteria, around 15% is linked to the environment and to human rights…”. The importance of transparency Beyond the collaborative projects we’ve been involved in this year, Gabrielle also commented on the importance of transparency and accountability in emissions reduction efforts. “We need companies to, every year, publish an update on how you are doing, but also importantly to share the challenges. If we don’t share the challenges with each other, how are we going to meet them?” What this allows for is new opportunities for collaboration, and also creates an open-source community of businesses who can relate, share, and learn from each other’s sustainability efforts in real time. Rather than starting efforts from scratch, business by business, we can build from each other's strengths and expedite cross-industry sustainability work. Commenting on this, Emelie Öhlander, Climate Action Program Manager for Ericsson, pointed out that “one of the things that we focus on is the opportunities and the risks”, something that is made more visible through the open disclosure that industry peers should engage in. In some final remarks from Day 4, Gabrielle expressed that companies need to become “bigger advocates on climate action”, speaking out about “positive climate action, what we’re doing, why science-based targets are so important” and particularly creating “ambition loops… where we encourage each other and drive each other faster towards net zero targets”. On Day 6, we also hosted a panel on supply chain engagement for climate action together with the Exponential Roadmap, inviting Louise Rehbinder, Director of the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, Rob Cameron, Global Head of Public Affairs of Nestlé and Daniel Reid, Senior Director of Environment of the Responsible Business Alliance to join Gabrielle on this topic and share examples of how companies and industry associations can engage with supply chains to inspire them to reduce emissions and support them in taking the necessary actions. By setting clear climate demands and providing tools through initiatives like the SME Climate Hub, we can make the necessary difference to accelerate climate action at scale. Watch the full panel below: https://youtu.be/SjXNsElekRY?t=6050 About the COP28 Climate Hub We Don’t Have Time hosted the COP28 Climate Hub, in partnership with Race To Zero, UNDP, the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, amplifying the important high-level discussions at COP28 to a global audience. The live broadcast spanned over 10 days and covered a variety of climate-related topics. Rewatch the COP28 Climate Hub anytime on We Don’t Have Time Play.
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This is so inspiring this is one way to reduce global supply chain emissions and to make the local.
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15 w
Gabrielle Giner is a visionary leader whose ideas and opinions are impactful to our collective responsibility of improving the environment
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15 w
Great job BT, it's always so inspiring to hear about your work with collaboration within the supply chain!
Melkisedek
27 w
Continued plating of trees and maintenance of the existing forests in most parts of the world is a greater contributor to the sustainable climate seasons and patterns.
23 more agrees trigger contact with the recipient
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27 w
Planting trees is good for the Earth.
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27 w
We need to support BT and encourage them by planting 3 trees in our home
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Trees are champions in absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis . By planting trees and restoring forests, we can effectively sequester carbon, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
BT
27 w
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BT and Johnson Controls are collaborating to help customers reduce emissions using smart building technologies that will digitally monitor, analyze, and optimize energy use and reduce operating costs. With energy efficiency being such a crucial portion of the world’s overall pathway to net zero, BT is hoping this collaboration will advance efforts to cut carbon across our business customer base. The Importance of energy efficiency There are many pathways to net zero that businesses can take advantage of, however, one of the most important and impactful routes is making energy consumption more efficient. The reasons are twofold: the less energy a business or building uses, the smaller their carbon footprint and following higher energy prices, more companies are recognizing that energy efficiency is vital to a profitable business model. The impact of pursuing energy efficiency, particularly in sectors like buildings, can be massive. The IEA has stated that “energy efficiency represents more than 40% of the emissions abatement needed by 2040” according to its Sustainable Development Scenario and is considered to be the “first fuel” that must be eliminated as part of a wider net zero strategy. In other words, while we transition away from fossil-reliant energy sources, the biggest impact businesses can have is in figuring out new ways to make the fuel that we do use go further. Why building efficiency matters Building emissions are defined as any emissions generated through “constructing, heating, cooling and lighting homes and businesses”, and while it may not be the largest contributor to global emissions, it accounts for “26% of global energy-related emissions”, with “8% being direct emissions in buildings and 18% indirect emissions from the production of electricity and heat used in buildings”. BT has partnered with Johnson Controls to give our business customers the tools they need to reach net zero faster while cutting costs. Digitalization as a tool for energy efficiency Through our partnership with Johnson Controls, BT is able to offer accurate measurement and access to efficiency solutions for our customers. Johnson Controls provides building technologies and energy management solutions with a specialized expertise in making buildings more efficient and “offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry”. Sustainable building management starts with effective measurements and data collection and through the collaboration we leverage smart building technology and Johnson Controls’ OpenBlue digital platform connected by secure and resilient networks that can improve data capture, enhance security, and provide effective management of connected buildings at scale. The reason why this is so powerful is that it doesn’t put more pressure on employees or stakeholders to expend efforts in monitoring their own energy usage and efficiencies. Smart, data-driven technologies can capture the data far more efficiently and at scale, empowering our customers to make informed decisions about their own carbon footprint and identify new operational efficiencies. Katie McGinty, vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer, Johnson Controls, said: “With the powerful combination of technology and partnerships, coupled with government incentives, there has never been a more opportune time to drive sustainability leadership and action. The collaboration between Johnson Controls and BT will unlock new potential for customers to further reduce emissions, cut costs and energize employees with their sustainability mission.” We’re excited to be running a live demo of this collaboration at our research facilities in Adastral Park soon, where we hope to inspire both our customers and industry peers to adopt these collaborative partnerships for energy efficiency. Read more: https://newsroom.bt.com/bt-and-johnson-controls-collaborate-to-help-businesses-reach-net-zero-faster/
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26 w
Agree 👍
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27 w
Wow. This is great!
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27 w
We need such more collaborations
BT
31 w
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BT Group is a long-standing partner and customer of Ericsson, and both companies have been leading the charge on sustainability initiatives in our sector. In fact, both organisations set independent and ambitious science-based targets as far back as 2008. We are both members of Exponential Roadmap Initiative (ERI) - an initiative for innovators, transformers and disruptors taking action in line with the 1.5°C ambition, with the mission to halve emissions before 2030 through exponential climate action and solutions. The Exponential Roadmap Initiative is an accredited partner of the United Nations’ Race To Zero and a founding partner of the 1.5°C Supply Chain Leaders and the SME Climate Hub. We’re also both founding members of ERI’s 1.5°C Supply Chain Leaders, an initiative set up so that businesses can “work with and support suppliers to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net zero emissions before 2050.” In line with these partnerships and initiatives, as well as ERI’s Business Playbook best practices, BT Group is tackling both long- and short-term goals for net zero, hoping to set an example on what is achievable in emissions reduction. Indeed, research shows that ICT solutions can enable a reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 15% by 2030. This calculation was estimated based on the legacy portfolio and 5G is expected to add a further reduction potential. The good news is that within our own industry, we’re not alone. In fact, alongside BT Group, there are currently 27 companies in JAC, “an association of telecom operators aiming to verify, assess and develop the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementation across the manufacturing centres of ICT suppliers,” and to date, over 90% of members have committed to science-based and/or net-zero targets. As pointed out in the recent JAC climate change report, the majority of emissions for ICT companies comes from supply chains, rather than from own operations. 84% of JAC members now have anywhere between 70-100% of their total carbon emissions falling under Scope 3 with 60% - 80% of telco operators’ typical Scope 3 carbon footprint is derived from the supply chain. Driving supply chain carbon reduction through sector collaboration In response to this, BT Group and other JAC members are looking for closer collaboration with supply chains. This includes vetting new suppliers to ensure that their values for net zero reflect our own, working directly with suppliers to help provide them with tools and processes they need to reduce emissions, and creating incentives for those suppliers to independently reduce their emissions. The JAC climate change report contains leading practice examples on sustainability for suppliers which are based on learning and best practice from JAC members. One of BT Group’s recent supply chain collaborations was covered here, and reflects the potential there is in this approach. And now we also are excited about this work we have been doing together with Ericsson for another example of how working together can reduce supply chain emissions. BT Group, Ericsson & Flex: Collaborating to reduce emissions As an industry peer, Ericsson has been leading the charge in many respects to emissions reductions, and last year BT Group and Ericsson decided to collaborate on ways in which they could reduce carbon emissions across both of their supply chains. This complemented Ericsson’s supplier climate target for 350 high emitting and strategic suppliers to set their own 1.5 degree aligned climate targets that they had started several years ago. An example of this collaboration was the work that Ericsson did with one of their suppliers, Flex, that switched to 100% renewable electricity for its factory in Tczew, Poland. Of the 1.1 million products Flex has produced for Ericsson in Poland, 1,401 baseband units were shipped by Ericsson to BT Group. As Flex had already switched to renewable energy at its Tczew, Poland site, Flex and Ericsson estimated an 11k-tonne reduction in Flex’s scope 2 carbon emissions dedicated to Ericsson for 2022, which translates to a 14-tonne reduction in embodied carbon emissions for the 1,401 baseband units shipped to BT Group. It may seem like a small improvement, but these types of actions are necessary in the journey towards Net zero and set a precedent for how these types of collaborations can be scaled in value chains. Moving forward: Climate Week NYC and continued collaboration As New York Climate Week gets underway, we’re looking forward to connecting with both Ericsson and ERI at the event to further the dialogue around collaborative initiatives like these. Our goal is to set examples that serve as inspiration for peers inside and outside of the Technology industry regarding what is possible when businesses join heads. As Johan Falk, Co-founder of ERI, stated: “Both 1.5 Supply Chain Leaders and the 1.5 Business Playbook are predicated upon the value of working together for climate solutions rather than in isolation. It is powerful enough when industry leaders take the initiative on their own to reduce their emissions and work towards net zero, but setting examples through collaboration demonstrates the effectiveness of frameworks like ours to exponentially speed up our collective emissions reductions goals. When collaborating, within our own value chains and across industries, we will reach both better understanding and results.” BT Group is looking forward to Climate Week and its capacity as a forum to showcase the solutions we’re building into our own business and the solutions we’re working on with our partner and supply chain. We encourage all companies, large and small, to take climate action. Good guides of where to start can be found here: Business Playbook - Exponential Roadmap Initiative Home - SME Climate Hub Supplier Action Guide - Exponential Roadmap Initiative
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30 w
Great work
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30 w
A powerful collaboration for the decarbonisation of supply chains!
BT
37 w
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In tackling climate change, businesses are increasingly working to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt sustainable practices. Yet, many businesses operate in silos, even with businesses in their own supply chain, and as a result, can’t leverage each other’s expertise to find better, smarter solutions to reducing their own emissions. BT Group, however, is not only making strides in reducing its own emissions, but is actively collaborating with other businesses in its value chain to help them do the same. One such example is the partnership between Openreach, part of BT Group and MJ Quinn, an industry-leading provider of telecoms, electrical, and building services. Through this collaboration, supported by sustainability consultancy EPI, BT Group worked with MJ Quinn in identifying and implementing carbon reduction opportunities in their operations. The focus on sustainable fleet management and other innovative initiatives resulted in significant carbon emission reductions, underscoring the power of collaborative company-to-company partnerships in combating climate change. It also set a new precedent for how businesses can and should look to their peers for greener pathways of operations. The challenge: carbon emissions from transport MJ Quinn's most significant environmental impact stemmed from its van fleet, accounting for approximately 90% of its operational carbon emissions. Operating primarily out of Liverpool, MJ Quinn's challenge was to minimize fleet emissions while efficiently serving BT Group, covering all of Wales, including the south. With such a wide range of operations for petrol vehicles, MJ Quinn needed to identify some smart ways to reduce their emissions, without compromising their service’s efficacy. The solution: ten carbon reduction measures MJ Quinn identified ten carbon reduction opportunities in various aspects of its operations, with a particular emphasis on fleet and travel, buildings, and waste management. Recognizing the significant impact of their van fleet, MJ Quinn took decisive actions to reduce emissions. To bring people closer to work locations, MJ Quinn established regional logistics hubs, effectively reducing journey distances and curbing emissions from long-distance drives. Additionally, the company made its fleet 100% Euro 6 compliant, adhering to stringent European Union emissions standards. To address driving behaviour, MJ Quinn implemented driver monitoring and training programs, providing drivers with scores reflecting their driving efficiency. This initiative led to a reduction in emissions resulting from harsh braking and poor speed management. Furthermore, a Sure Track telematics system was installed across the entire fleet to measure performance. In addition to fleet optimization, MJ Quinn made efforts to reduce emissions in its buildings. Installing a heat pump in the main logistics hub and adopting practices such as shutting down IT equipment when not in use contributed to substantial carbon savings. The company also improved waste management practices, increasing landfill diversion, and enhancing the recycling of telecoms cable. The results: a 7% emissions reduction The concerted efforts of MJ Quinn and BT Group's partnership yielded impressive results. During the first quarter of 2023, the electric vans travelled a total of 7,770km, resulting in a saving of 1.9 tonnes of carbon emissions. The idling campaign alone saved 9 tonnes of carbon emissions since its introduction. Driver monitoring and training initiatives saved over three tonnes of carbon, with 29 drivers trained so far. The establishment of new logistics depots in strategic locations contributed to a significant reduction of over 127 tonnes of carbon. Shutting down IT equipment when not in use saved 7.2 tonnes of carbon, and improvements in landfill diversion resulted in a saving of 3 tonnes. Additionally, segregating telecoms cable and synthetic blue rope for recycling further enhanced sustainability efforts. Working collaboratively, the interventions resulted in a remarkable 7% reduction in MJ Quinn’s carbon footprint, saving an impressive 1,484.87 tonnes of carbon emissions. Passing the sustainability torch back to MJ Quinn Buoyed by their success, MJ Quinn plans to further expand its sustainability initiatives. The company is exploring opportunities to reduce emissions associated with employee commutes and aims to increase driver training rates. Additionally, identifying and addressing sources of 'parasitic power,' such as IT equipment left on standby, is on the agenda. The company remains committed to driving further emissions savings by transitioning to more electric vans and green energy supply for buildings. Setting a new norm for climate collaboration The collaborative partnership between BT Group and MJ Quinn exemplifies the immense potential of company-to-company collaboration in the tackling climate change. By identifying carbon reduction opportunities and implementing innovative solutions, MJ Quinn significantly reduced its carbon footprint. Such partnerships not only benefit individual companies, but also contribute to the broader battle against climate change. They add another dimension to collaboration as initiatives like these show how one business’s climate expertise can be utilised to help another. BT Group is looking forward to establishing more partnerships like this in the future and hoping to set a new norm for collaborations like this across industries. As more businesses embrace sustainable practices through collaborative efforts, we move closer to achieving a greener and more sustainable future for all.
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Great
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37 w
Great Article 💚
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incredible
BT
41 w
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As summer arrives in the UK, the possibility of another heatwave looms on the horizon. Last year's scorching temperatures and record-breaking summer has left people wondering if 2023 will follow suit as sweltering weather conditions like 'El Niño' become more prevalent. In the face of climate change and its adverse effects on our water systems, BT is investing in innovative solutions to sustainably manage water resources. In a recent article, Ashish Gupta, the MD of Corporate & Public Sector at BT, shed light on these advancements that BT and the water industry are implementing to mitigate water shortages head on. Water challenges in the face of climate change: Climate change has brought forth both flooding and water scarcity, presenting significant challenges in recent years. It has become evident that immediate action is required to protect our environment and precious natural resources. The previous summer was one of the driest on record, and experts predict the return of drought conditions this year. The south-west region even saw the introduction of a hosepipe ban from August to April due to below-average rainfall. But in times of drought, reservoirs play a crucial role in ensuring a steady water supply for our communities, making their efficient operation and capacity crucial. And this is where connectivity comes into play, and BT is working locally with partners to address this challenge. Cutting carbon in Nidderdale: BT has collaborated with long-standing partner Yorkshire Water to address the challenges faced by the village of Nidderdale in the Yorkshire Dales. Traditionally, Yorkshire Water's engineers manually measured water quality along the Scar House reservoir, a time-consuming and costly process. To overcome this, BT worked with Yorkshire Water to install state-of-the-art IoT monitors on water courses that feed the reservoir. These smart sensors, connected through the EE mast nearby, transmit data back to Yorkshire Water, allowing scientists and engineers to proactively select the best available water sources for treatment. This optimizes resource allocation and also reduces Yorkshire Water's carbon footprint by enabling better insights into water quality. Using IoT to work smarter in Derbyshire: Another significant challenge faced by water companies due to climate change is managing wastewater overflow during flooding. In the last year alone, the UK experienced 825 raw sewage spills per day that required an unprecedented £10bn investment, “the biggest modernisation of sewers since the Victorian era, and the most ambitious programme on sewage spills in the world”. BT, in collaboration with Severn Trent, has embarked on a ground-breaking project in Derbyshire to tackle this issue. Leveraging artificial intelligence, the project aims to predict weather conditions, forecast maintenance requirements, and autonomously control waste flow. AI deployed on Severn Trent's pumping stations will provide real-time monitoring and forecasting. By diverting excess water away from overflows and hotspots, water companies can prevent flooding and the pollution of clean water sources. This effort involves various partners from the water and industrial sectors, as well as global innovators and esteemed institutions. Connecting for good: These projects in the water industry exemplify how technology can be harnessed to work smarter, benefiting local communities and the environment alike. BT believes that technology can play a pivotal role in creating a sustainable world and allow us to mitigate the effects of climate change we’re already experiencing by becoming more efficient with our resources. The challenges posed by climate change necessitate innovative solutions, and BT is committed to driving these advancements. As the UK braces itself for another potential heatwave, the need to sustainably manage our water systems has never been more crucial. BT's collaboration with the water industry showcases their dedication to developing innovative technologies that address these challenges head-on. Through initiatives like IoT-enabled water quality monitoring and AI-powered wastewater management, BT is striving to ensure the efficient and sustainable use of our most precious resource: water. By harnessing the power of technology, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future for businesses, communities, and the planet as a whole. To learn more about the innovative technology BT provides to the water industry, check out our full range of solutions here! https://pages.business.bt.com/Utilities.html
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41 w
The role of digitalisation and smart data continues to astound me, at what point will all this data be enough to make policymakers understand the need of taking care of our natural resources?
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41 w
Water management is critical for enabling to adapt to climate change, and is therefore an essential priority in climate related investment.
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41 w
Very interesting solution and very necessary! Are you working with local governments to implement it? And are they interested in the matter?
BT
45 w
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For over 30 years, we have been at the forefront of climate and sustainability action. Back in 2008, we were one of the first companies to a set science-based carbon reduction target for our own operations. And in FY22, we made a commitment to become a net zero emissions business by March 2031 for our own operations and by March 2041 for our supply chain and customer emissions. We have already made significant strides towards our goals. We now use 100% renewable electricity worldwide and we are transforming our workplaces by moving to fewer, more sustainable, and efficient buildings. By 2030, we aim to transition the majority of our fleet, consisting of 34,000 vehicles, to electric or zero carbon emission vehicles. However, our journey is far from over. As part of our commitment to building a circular BT Group by March 2030 and fostering a circular tech and telco ecosystem by March 2040, we are taking several steps to achieve these ambitions. As our mobile network, EE, and our fibre infrastructure division, Openreach, build new energy-efficient, high-speed networks, we are actively exploring ways to remove, reuse, and recycle our old legacy networks. These outdated networks, such as the PSTN (Public Switch Telephone Network) and 3G, contribute significantly to energy consumption. Professor Tim Cooper, an esteemed expert in sustainable consumption and design, points out that our current consumption of electrical goods is unsustainable. The United Nations even describes the resulting "tsunami of e-waste" as a grave concern. E-waste contains harmful components that endanger human health and pollute our environment, especially in less affluent regions. Nonetheless, by sustainably e-mining and recycling common metals found in e-waste, like iron, copper, tin, and aluminum, we have a tremendous environmental and economic opportunity. Recovering these elements and reintegrating them into the global supply chain through urban mining is crucial for a green transition. To tackle BT Group's e-waste, we have established the Exchange Clearance Operation (ECO) program. It involves recovering, recycling, and reselling equipment from our telephone exchanges, allowing us to close down those inefficient networks and reduce the number of buildings we maintain. We have partnered with N2S and TXO, European leaders in telecom equipment recycling and re-use, to make this initiative possible. TXO provides valuable expertise in promoting internal re-use and reselling equipment globally, keeping it in active use. Additionally, we are exploring innovative processes like bioleaching with N2S, which extracts and recovers precious metals from technology equipment for re-use. This year alone, the program will extract over 200 tonnes of copper cable (equivalent to the weight of over 140 Ford Focus cars) and recycle over 2,000 tonnes of lead batteries. These efforts, combined with recycling and reselling redundant network equipment, are projected to generate £4 million in revenue. Decommissioning equipment on such a large scale is no small feat. As digital leaders, it is crucial that we invest in high-quality, reliable connections built on environmentally sustainable technologies. Collaborating with companies like N2S and TXO enables us to reduce waste and protect valuable natural resources. While these programs represent significant progress, they are only the beginning. We have a long way to go to achieve our sustainability goals. Nevertheless, we remain determined and committed to pushing boundaries to minimize our impact on the planet.
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45 w
Bravo for the BT group
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45 w
Here for this. Good for BT and the world
BT
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In the midst of the climate and energy crises, it is crucial for businesses to think about their energy consumption and implement solutions that decrease energy related emissions. The IT sector's deployment of networks, migration to the cloud, and hosting services can potentially consume a lot of energy, but companies aren’t always aware of the impact that networking devices have on their power consumption. BT Group is changing that and helping customers monitor and reduce their emissions with energy and carbon monitoring tools. On the second day of Stockholm Climate Week, organized by We Don’t Have Time and partners on April 18-22, Sarwar Khan, Head of Digital Sustainability, Business at BT, joined the broadcast to share his insights on carbon monitoring tools centered around green IT and meeting BT Group’s goal of helping customers save 60 million tons of CO2e by 2030. As a technology company, BT is helping customers reduce their emissions by providing technological solutions to a variety of sectors. BT’s Carbon Network Dashboard extracts real-time power data and correlates it with grid energy data to help networking teams schedule their energy-intensive activities to match the supply of renewable energy on the grid. It also utilizes machine learning to detect and predict anomalies in networking equipment. The ultimate objective is to help customers improve their energy efficiency by staying updated about the condition of the equipment and making repairs or replacements when necessary. By combining these services BT helps its customers manage their energy use. “The aim is to bring transparency in terms of power consumption with these devices and equipment and also help organizations make informed decisions in terms of managing the low-carbon operations and increasing energy efficiency”, said Sarwar Khan. The company’s work doesn’t stop at networking equipment - buildings are responsible for a significant 40% of all emissions, so BT Group is taking steps to securely connect buildings to the IT infrastructure. By doing so, BT can gather valuable data directly from heating, ventilation, and cooling systems. This data can be analyzed by AI algorithms along with factors such as occupancy, temperature settings, and weather conditions to help identify areas where energy efficiency can be improved, ultimately lowering the emissions the building causes. Watch the full session here: https://youtu.be/61bwsSqheBc?t=21210 Rewatch Stockholm Climate Week anytime on We Don’t Have Time Play.
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Any strategy to reduce emissions is a plus
BT
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By launching a new set of revolutionary digital tools, we have taken another step towards our goal to help reduce 60 million tons of our customers’ CO2 emissions by 2030. As a telecommunications company, we help customers reduce their emissions by providing technological solutions to a variety of sectors. Our goal is to empower them to become more sustainable and efficient. Here is how the two digital tools work; customers can upload an inventory of their network equipment for analysis in the Digital Carbon Calculator, which will provide an estimated carbon footprint for their network estate across their devices and recommend potential device swaps that can help reduce carbon. The Carbon Network Dashboard extracts real-time power data and correlates it with grid energy data to help networking teams schedule batch jobs to match renewable energy on the grid. It also utilizes machine learning to detect and predict anomalies. With the Dashboard, our ultimate objective is to help customers meet their sustainability goals by staying updated about the condition of their network equipment. Combined these services help our customers manage their end-to-end carbon emissions. BT Group’s global head of digital sustainability, Sarwar Khan says: “With customers hosting more of their applications across multiple clouds, networks are now increasingly vital for all elements of business performance, including carbon impact. Our new tools empower their net zero goals.” “With our latest tools, we want to make it easier than ever to keep track of carbon emissions, manage equipment replacements, and help customers towards their journeys to net zero.” Want to learn more? Check out our website.
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This will improve our Health and Quality of Life.
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Reducing our carbon footprint is important because it can help to reduce greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere.
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Awesome!
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BT Group’s Green Tech Innovation Platform aims to speed up the climate transition by highlighting and fast-tracking new digital solutions that help manufacturers cut their emissions and be more sustainable. As the platform moves into phase 2, three start-ups will get support from BT Group and the Manufacturing Technology Centre to demonstrate to UK manufacturers that they can help them reach their climate goals. BT Group’s Green Tech Innovation Platform, which launched in 2020 and was awarded the Responsible Business Alliance Innovation Award at COP26, has entered its second phase, to fast-track cutting-edge new digital solutions to help manufacturers cut their carbon emissions and progress towards a circular world. The initial phase of the Green Tech Innovation Platform saw BT Group work alongside iOpt on its IoT solution to monitor social housing conditions and with EverImpact to trial sensors, installed on its next-generation Street Hub units, that enables local councils to gather real-time data on CO2e emissions and air pollution. In phase 2, BT Group will work with even more solutions as rising stars of the start-up world RIIICO, Sensorfact and Circularise join the platform. In partnership with BT Group and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), they will begin proof of concept (PoC) activities to prove their impact for UK manufacturers. According to a joint report from BT Group and Accenture, tech, including 5G, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing sector by 13% by 2030. This equates to roughly 1.3 Gt of CO2 equivalents, so use of digital technologies has the potential to play an important part in tackling climate change. The three startups that have been selected for the platform focus on three different areas: - RIIICO helps manufacturers create resilient and transparent digital factory designs; ensuring they’re prepared for the future. It does this by using a combination of 3D scanning to inform Digital Twins (digital versions of physical environments) augmented by artificial intelligence (AI) to enable people and computers to remodel and enhance that environment. This approach reduces modelling time by 95% and data maintenance costs by 25%. - Sensorfact works with small manufacturers to reduce their energy bill and carbon footprint by eliminating energy waste in a smart and easy way through sensors. Sensorfact have already helped over 1,000 manufacturing companies across north-western Europe save an average of 5-10% on their electricity bill. - Circularise helps suppliers to trace materials, share sensitive data without risking privacy, and automate mass reporting using blockchain software. This helps businesses and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to get visibility into their own Scope 3 emissions, preparing them for upcoming supply chain sustainability regulations, and enabling a circular economy at scale. As part of its plans towards a low carbon business model, BT Group has set a target to help its customers avoid 60 million tonnes of CO2e by end of March 2031 through its products and services. Read the press release on our website.
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This is the best way to go
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This could be a major step forward in tackling climate change.
BT
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As a telecommunications company, we are uniquely placed to help our customers reduce their emissions. By using our technology solutions to make other sectors smarter and more efficient, we want to help customers avoid 60 million tonnes of carbon emissions equivalents (CO2e) by the end of March 2030. In the telecommunications industry, the real potential for emissions reductions lies in helping customers reduce their emissions. For BT Group, around 23% of our end-to-end carbon emissions come from our customers using our products and services. We are working on many ways to reduce this and aiming to help our customers reduce their emissions through, for example, the use of full fibre broadband, mobile solutions, and growth technologies like cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT). The carbon reduction potential of digital technologies is significant. According to research by BT Group and Accenture, the tech sector can enable 17% of emission reductions in four different sectors; electricity and heat, agriculture, manufacturing, and transport and buildings; all while reducing emissions from their own operations by 40%. BT Group has launched two digital tools that help customers optimise their multi-cloud networks for sustainability. The Digital Carbon Calculator provides customers with an estimated carbon footprint for their networking estate across their devices, and recommends potential device swaps that can help reduce carbon. The Carbon Network Dashboard extracts real-time power data and correlates it with grid energy data to help networking teams schedule batch jobs to match renewable energy on the grid. Combined these services help our customers manage their end-to-end carbon emissions. We are working on identifying carbon-reducing solutions and developing a new model to capture the amount of carbon that our customers save so that we can report our progress toward this goal. We are also working to promote sustainable consumer behavior. In 2022, we reached out to consumers through campaigns to encourage them to do their bit for climate and show that small changes can make a big difference if we work together. Learn more about these campaigns and our other sustainability work in our 2022 Manifesto Report.
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Amazing to understand that BT Group is steering reduction of carbon emisiion that would see 17% carbon reduction frrom the tech industry. Kudos BT
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Great to read about the different solutions BT is offering to help various sectors in the green transition!
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During the UN climate conference COP27, BT Group participated in the COP27 Climate Hub, an on-site and digital broadcast hosted by We Don’t Have Time from Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt. Gabrielle Ginér, Head of Environmental Sustainability at BT Group joined the broadcast from Sharm El-Sheikh to talk about enabling the climate transition as a network provider. Gabrielle emphasized that the key message for BT Group at COP27 is about collaboration and transparency. If there is no transparency between businesses, there is no shared information about the challenges in reaching net zero, and if there are no shared challenges then we can’t overcome them together. Simply stated, collaboration will accelerate the transition, but there can be no collaboration without transparency. For BT Group, the biggest challenge in reaching net zero for its operations is electrifying its commercial fleet of 33,000 vehicles, and to succeed the company has joined forces with other companies through various climate coalitions to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and advocate for the supply of vehicles, cost parity and required charging infrastructure. Another massive challenge is reducing the emissions from BT Group’s c. 16,000 suppliers. Initiatives like the 1.5°C Supply Chain Leaders or the SME Climate Hub were launched to provide suppliers with the tools and knowledge they need to decarbonize, in an active effort to make sure that they decarbonize fast enough to meet BT’s climate ambitions, which is why BT Group is taking an active part in these initiatives. Once again, collaboration and transparency is the key to reaching our goals. Gabrielle also discussed the telecom sector's business opportunities in providing carbon reduction solutions, saying, "There are big revenue opportunities for companies like us, with digital technologies. Already, 25% of BT Group's revenues come from solutions that help customers avoid carbon emissions. We have a new target to help customers avoid 60 million tonnes of carbon by 2030. So I think, for us, it is a growth opportunity and we are looking at developing those products and services for our customers." https://youtu.be/06fapRvkkoI?t=9568 Rewatch the COP27 Climate Hub anytime on We Don’t Have Time Play.
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Really good!
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With only a few weeks to go before COP27 opens its doors, BT Group’s head of environmental sustainability, Gabrielle Ginér, takes some time to look at what we have accomplished and what needs to be done at COP27 and beyond. By Gabrielle Ginér, Head of environmental sustainability, BT Group Climate action has been a part of BT Group’s agenda for 30 years. Our first carbon reduction target was set in 1992, and in 2008 we set our first science-based target - to reduce the carbon emissions intensity of our business by 80% by 2020. We were proud when we met that target four years ahead of time, but we decided that was not enough. In 2017, we became the third company in the world to have a 1.5 degree Celsius aligned science based target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. And in 2021, we pledged to be net zero in our own operations by March 2031, and for our customer emissions and supply chain by March 2041. To achieve the 2031 goal we are focusing on three areas: continuing to use 100% renewable electricity worldwide, decarbonising our estate, and decarbonising our fleet. Any residual emissions will be covered by investment in high quality carbon offsets. As many other companies in the telecom industry, our own operations account for only a small percentage of our total carbon footprint. While 6% of our emissions come from our own operations, 70% are from our upstream supply chain, and 23% from customers using our products and services. It is clear to us that working with suppliers to reduce their own carbon emissions is key if we want to reach our net zero supply chain target. If you want to know more about the specific actions we have taken, we have written about them in previous articles here on We Don’t Have Time. Looking forward to COP27, we need to keep the intention of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C alive, and we need to see accelerated climate action during this decade. Action is growing, but more companies need to come on-board in setting science based targets aligned to 1.5 degrees before we see a true turning point. We need thousands more companies to join, and we need countries to provide new and improved carbon reduction plans that go far enough to ensure we stay below the 1.5 degree threshold. Accountability and transparency are key. How are countries and companies progressing on their targets and what are their plans to reach net zero? We need everyone to share their progress and plans publically so we can understand what the gaps and challenges are. Only if we understand this, can we work together to solve them. For this we need not only brave leaders, but also more data to track our progress. We can not afford to lose momentum. We need to have a clear and science based direction going forward. If we do, I believe we can pull ourselves out of this crisis. It’s now all about HOW we transition to net zero and only by collaborating can we overcome the challenges to get there. Tune in for We Don’t Have Time’s COP27 broadcasts, where I will be participating in the discussion on November 8th.
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Commendable efforts Dear Gabrielle. Keep setting the pace.
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Great article! Let's keep pushing and get many more on board!
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Reducing the emissions from our supply chain is a crucial step to managing our overall climate impact. To do this, we have created a standard for taking climate action that all of our suppliers need to follow, and founded the 1.5°C Supply Chain Leaders to help them reach it. As with many companies in the telecoms industry, only a small percentage (5%) of BT Group’s end-to-end carbon emissions come from our own operations. Around 71% comes from our upstream supply chain and 24% from customers using our products and services. It is clear to us that working with suppliers to reduce their own carbon emissions is key if we want to reach our net zero targets. To achieve supply chain visibility, we have worked with the UK Government, trade associations, NGOs, policy makers and other organisations such as techUK, 1.5°C Supply Chain Leaders and the SME Climate Hub to help drive progress on Scope 3 emissions. As a business, we are also undertaking three initiatives which focus on reducing our supply chain emissions. - We’re using our purchasing power, with 15% of our criteria to become a supplier being linked to responsible and sustainable procurement standards. All suppliers undergo assessment with regards to sustainability before they are on-boarded. - We ask suppliers with a contract value over £25m to have a net zero science-based target in place or agree to introduce one within six months, in addition to building a carbon reduction clause into key contracts. We encourage suppliers to switch to 100% renewable electricity, set net zero targets, engage with their suppliers and to disclose to CDP - a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system. - We drive innovation through our Game Changing Challenge competition on innovative solutions to environmental challenges. To reduce the climate impact of our suppliers, we defined climate demands that suppliers need to meet. We require all suppliers to comply with our climate change standard, which we follow up through supplier assessments and questionnaires. We are also supporting our suppliers with tools and guides to help them take climate action. In September 2020, we became founding members of the 1.5°C Supply Chain Leaders. Through this initiative we provide tools to help our suppliers, and any other small or medium enterprise that needs them, to reduce their emissions via the SME Climate Hub. So far, we have reduced our supply chain emissions by 28% compared to 2016/2017, well on the way towards our science based target of 42% supply chain emissions reduction by the end of March 2031. In the next post, we will tell you more about how we work with our customers to help them reduce their emissions. Read more about our work with reducing our carbon footprint in our Manifesto report.
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Great efforts! We need to decarbonise the whole supply chain to have a real impact
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Putting strict demands on suppliers in terms of their climate action is an action I haven't heard about before - that sounds like a very impactful action for a larger company!
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With the second largest commercial fleet in the UK, around two thirds of BT Group’s operational emissions come from our vehicles. So switching the majority of our 33,000 vehicles to electric or low-emission vehicles by March 2031 is an important milestone on our journey to net zero. In the last year alone, Openreach has added 700 electric vehicles to our current commercial fleet, which now consists of over 1000 vehicles, and our sites are equipped with an increasing number of charging points. Openreach have also worked with electricity suppliers to install more than 600 vehicle chargers at the homes of our engineers. By taking these steps, we make electric transportation the new norm at our offices, and our employees have responded well - our electric vehicles have already travelled over 3.5 million miles, avoiding 1,500 tonnes of CO2. Businesses like BT Group and Openreach have an important role to play in the transition to electric vehicles. We are members of EV100 and founding members of the UK Electric Fleets Coalition, two organisations that helped influence the UK Government’s decision that sales of petrol and diesel cars in the UK will be banned in 2030, followed by a ban of hybrid car sales in 2035. As a company, we have a duty to act. By working with others to push for policy measures to support the transition to electric vehicles, drive demand for electric vehicles and encouraging our colleagues to drive cars with zero tailpipe emissions. There are still many obstacles in the way, but we mustn't stop. We signed the Transport Declaration last year at the COP26 summit, which calls for businesses to work towards having 100% of our car and van fleets be zero emission vehicles by 2030, or earlier where markets allow. But we still need to do more. In the UK, we need to improve our charging infrastructure, provide clean electricity and support people and companies that want to buy electric vehicles. As a founding member of the EV Fleet Accelerator, we are working with UK companies to handle the impact of government changes in grants that reduce subsidies for plug-in small and large vans, as well as capping grants at 1,000 vehicles per company and year. We want to improve the economy of electric vehicles to enable more companies to follow our lead and be a positive force in the transition to electric transportation. Reducing the emissions from our own operations is just one step towards making a positive impact in tackling the climate crisis. Keep following us here on We Don’t Have Time to learn more about our most recent climate actions over the coming months, or if you can’t wait that long you can check out our Manifesto report.
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I do think that companies electrifying transports is crucial to shift the public perception and usage of electric vehicles, but we also need to focus on reducing transports as a whole through car sharing or public transport.
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As a business, BT Group is committed to reaching net zero by the end of March 2031 for its own emissions and by the end of March 2041 for its supply chain and customer emissions. We’ve already reduced the carbon emissions intensity of our business by 55% since 2016/17, but to reach our goal of 87% by March 2031, we need to do more to make our buildings and networks as efficient as possible. To acknowledge that yesterday, July 10th, was Global Energy Independence Day, we want to highlight how BT act to enable the use of renewable energy. In the UK alone, BT consumes around 1.8Twh of electricity annually. We’re already consuming 100% renewable electricity worldwide, but we still want to reduce our electricity consumption to minimise our operating costs and free up supplies of renewable electricity for others to use to cut their emissions. We’re downsizing our buildings estate and consolidating many of our offices from old, inefficient buildings into new ones designed to minimise environmental impact through energy-saving features like dimmable lighting and heat recovery systems. The removal of legacy equipment from our exchanges is already saving energy in our core networks and we’re looking into cost-effective low-carbon heating solutions for our existing buildings. We’re also investing in more efficient cooling systems and we’re working with tech suppliers to help us cut energy use across our buildings and networks infrastructure. In the last year alone, we opened two new BREEAM Excellent buildings. Our Three Snowhill site in Birmingham will initially avoid around 76 tonnes of CO2e per year and our new purpose-built HQ in London is much more efficient than the old one. We plan to open more green buildings, including Bristol next year. By installing an efficient electric heating system at our Warrington contact centre, replacing the old site that used gas-fired boilers, we’re avoiding 83 tonnes of CO2e per year. Overall, we’ve cut our global energy consumption by 9 GWh over the last year. Reducing the emissions from our own operations is just one step towards making a positive impact in abating the climate crisis. Keep following us here on We Don’t Have Time to learn more about our most recent climate actions over the coming months, or if you can’t wait that long you can check out our Manifesto report here: https://www.bt.com/about/annual-reports/2022summary/assets/documents/BT_Manifesto_report.pdf
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Companies can very much emulate BTs efforts in the fight for climate change including decarbonizing.
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Happy to hear companies take steps beyond just decarbonizing. Scaling down our energy use through efficiency and degrowth is really important to reduce resource use.
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This actually sounds pretty promising. Thanks for sharing!
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Gabrielle Ginér, head of environmental sustainability at BT Group recently attended the Stockholm+50 Climate Hub remotely from the UK to talk about the need and necessity of companies to work with their supply chains, the work of the 1.5 degree Supply Chain Leaders Initiative and BT’s work in this space. During the session, Ginér said: “71% of BT’s emissions come from our supply chain, and we are determined to work with our suppliers to cut down on these emissions to reach our 2040 net zero emission targets for customers and supply chain. We are using our purchasing power for the good of humanity and the environment by linking our purchasing criteria to both these factors. “We also assess our suppliers for their environmental sustainability performance, and the assessments are done before onboarding any of our suppliers. The suppliers that have a contract value in excess of £25 million should have a net zero science based target or put it in place within six months of becoming our approved suppliers. Some key suppliers also have a carbon reduction clause in their contracts, i.e., these suppliers have to reduce their carbon emissions over the term of the contract. Moreover, they are encouraged to report their climate performance to CDP." “We have initiated a game changing challenge where we invite our suppliers to pitch their ideas for reducing carbon and doing good for sustainability." says Gabrielle. "The winner of the BT Game Changing Challenge gets an opportunity to work closely with us on the idea. We believe in working with others for the maximum benefits, and we want to make that happen. To cement this further, we are working with the UK government to encourage small businesses to sign up to the SME Climate Hub, which so far has resulted in over 3000 businesses joining the hub." Watch the panel discussion in full and to hear Gabrielle Ginér talk about BT's work on the environment, sustainability, and collaboration with suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint of their business, along with Carlo Manuel Drauth, Head of Responsible Business and Human Rights, Telefónica S.A.; Louise Rehbinder, Hardware Sourcing Strategy Executor, Ericsson; Madeleine Nordqvist, Environmental Strategy and Operational Lead | Sustainability, Telia company and Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Host, We Don’t Have Time: https://youtu.be/1QeKV76wzAo?t=5757
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Using your purchasing power to do good is a good idea. All businesses should follow BT and use their purchasing power to do good for humanity and the environment.
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This was such an interesting discussion at the climate hub!
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it was great to have you on the show!
Niall Enright
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BT Group has for years stated that it is using increasing quantities of renewable electricity for which it claims zero emissions and pats itself on the back. Only a small proportion of that renewable electricity can be said to have arisen from BT's own efforts (16% of their electricity has been purchased through Power Purchase Agreements where the supply MAY be unsubsidized - see link below).... the remainder is through "high quality green tariffs or in a small number of markets, renewable certificates". The latter two mechanisms don't demonstrate what is called additionality because the renewable generation has been paid for by levies on all electricity users, not by BT. Thus BT is expropriating for itself the emissions reductions paid for by others - simply by acquiring the green certificates allied to the tariff (RECs or REGOs etc). BT's actions are allowed under the current, woeful, carbon accounting rules. However, the level of concern about these types of claims has led BEIS to launch an consultation on tightening up the rules and many organizations such as the Science Based Targets Institute and the UK Green Building Council prohibit the use of green tariffs in order to claim zero emissions - insisting that, unless additionality can be demonstrated (i.e. the claimant can show they have paid in full for the generation capacity to be created), the electricity should be accounted for using national or location-based conversion factors. Come on BT, do the right thing and only claim for yourself emissions reductions that you have validly made possible - ensure additionality in the actions you are reporting. We, your customers, aren't mugs and don't appreciate being taken for fools by a sophisticated organization who should know better. https://newsroom.bt.com/bt-group-hits-100-renewable-electricity-milestone-worldwide-and-helps-57-million-people-in-the-uk-with-top-tips-on-tech-campaign/
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By James Browne, Head of Street at BT Coverage of the recent COP26 climate summit in Glasgow brought concerns around climate change to the forefront of many peoples’ minds, with the event being an opportunity for global leaders to meet and discuss ways to tackle climate change. While it didn’t give us all the answers, it is clear we need to work together to take collective action. This applies to us as individuals, as well as the pressing responsibility that businesses have, both large and small. At BT, we’ve set our own target to become Net Zero by 2030 for our own operational emissions, and by 2040 for our supply chain and customer emissions. We’re proactively sharing knowledge with our partners so that the entire ecosystem can work together to achieve the Government’s Net Zero emissions target. BT is an active member of the SME Climate Hub which aims to share best practice and motivate SMEs to halve their greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero emissions by 2050. Supporting initiatives to help drive sustainable outcomes is something we have been working on with local authorities and our public sector customers for some time. Most recently, we’re delighted to have won the Responsible Business Alliance Innovation Award at a COP 26 event hosted by DEFRA, recognising the work of our Green Tech Innovation Platform which has been designed to help develop innovative technology to help support our public sector customers in their transition to Net Zero. Smarter streets I was fortunate enough to attend the COP26 'Tech for Climate Action' event in Glasgow to showcase some of the innovative technology we’re developing to help local authorities across the country to meet their climate targets. For example, we recently launched our Street Hub 2.0 units which can incorporate air quality and CO2 sensors to provide local councils with the insight needed to help them take action to improve air quality, contributing to the health and wellbeing of local people and helping local councils to meet their sustainability goals. To date, around 300 councils have declared a climate emergency, and are taking steps to reduce carbon emissions in their local areas, with two thirds declaring an ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030. Working with start-up Everimpact through our Green Tech Innovation Platform, the solution combines Everimpact’s satellite data and AI technology with air quality and CO2 data collated via sensors on BT’s street furniture, including our Street Hub 2.0 units. Local councils will then be able to access the data via a ‘Smart City Dashboard’ where they will be able to track emissions, and receive certified carbon offsetting information, enabling local councils to generate funds for their decarbonisation efforts. Street Hub 2.0 units also feature a sustainable design and are powered by renewable electricity. In addition to helping local authorities to meet their sustainability goals, our new Street Hub 2.0 units can also help councils to reach their economic and social improvement goals. Street Hubs provide ultrafast Wi-Fi connectivity and free calls to anyone in the UK and an emergency call button. The new units can also help improve mobile network coverage and capacity with the option to incorporate 4G and 5G small cells, allowing councils to meet the demands of their increasingly digitally connected local residents, businesses and visitors to the high street. A boost for local businesses Each unit also includes two digital screens that can be updated in real-time to share important public health and safety messages – a feature which was used during the recent national lockdowns - as well as sharing updates on council services. They also offer local businesses and brands the opportunity to invest in digital street advertising to better promote their products and services. To celebrate the roll-out of the new Street Hub 2.0 units and to support local businesses following the Covid-19 pandemic, I’m really proud of the fact that BT is donating up to £7.5 million of outdoor advertising space on the screens to small businesses across those cities where our new units are being rolled out. Glasgow is the second city in the country to benefit from the new Street Hub 2.0 units, with the first unit in Scotland unveiled today in Sauchiehall Street, one of the main shopping streets city centre. With nominations open now, we’re calling on local businesses and the public to nominate local firms who could benefit from the free advertising offer. Subject to local planning processes, we’re aiming to roll out around 300 of our new Street Hub 2.0 units across the UK over the next 12 months, working closely with local councils and communities. Building a bright, sustainable future It’s clear that local authorities have an important role to play in building better connected and more sustainable towns and cities, however, we know it’s not an easy undertaking. Working in partnership, BT can support local authorities by providing future-ready infrastructure and environment monitoring solutions as they look to build a more sustainable future for both the public and local businesses. To find out more about BT’s Street Hubs visit: https://business.bt.com/public-sector/street-hubs/ About BT BT Group is the UK’s leading telecommunications and network provider and a leading provider of global communications services and solutions, serving customers in 180 countries. Its principal activities in the UK include the provision of fixed voice, mobile, broadband and TV (including Sport) and a range of products and services over converged fixed and mobile networks to consumer, business and public sector customers. For its global customers, BT provides managed services, security and network and IT infrastructure services to support their operations all over the world. BT consists of four customer-facing units: Consumer, Enterprise, Global and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Openreach, which provides access network services to over 650 communications provider customers who sell phone, broadband and Ethernet services to homes and businesses across the UK. For the year ended 31 March 2021, BT Group’s reported revenue was £21,331m with reported profit before taxation of £1,804m. British Telecommunications plc 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 the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.bt.com/about
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As the world looks to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, we must remember that the global climate emergency hasn’t gone away. That's why we're delighted to announce plans to curb its carbon emissions sooner than planned bringing forward our net zero target from 2045 to 2030 for our operational emissions and 2040 for our supply chain and customer emissions. https://newsroom.bt.com/bt-group-accelerates-net-zero-targets-and-launches-campaign-to-get-the-nation-talking-about-climate-change/
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Excellent!!
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Can technology help households to cut carbon? We teamed up with Hubbub and 61 diverse households find out and today we revealed the results. Read the findings and discover how small sustainable lifestyle changes can make a big difference https://newsroom.bt.com/bt-smarter-living-challenge-uncovers-steps-to-sustainable-living-in-the-uk/
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Thank you for the report. Can I read more about how much CO2 each action saved per household?
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Very good initiative.
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Very creative and encouraging!
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No one person or organisation can tackle #climatechange alone which is why we want people to feel inspired to make a contribution of their own, however large or small. It’s the combination of everybody pulling together that will make the difference. Read about our latest research regarding peoples attitudes to climate change. https://newsroom.bt.com/new-bt-research-reveals-almost-half-of-people-dont-feel-they-have-the-ability-to-tackle-climate-change/
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Our purpose and strategy puts digital impact and sustainability at the 💜 of everything we do. We’ve reached 10 million people with digital skills, reached 100% renewable electricity globally, and we’ve launched our responsible tech approach. As we look to the future we're fully committed to: 📱 building better digital lives and helping 25 million people make the most of life in the digital world 💻respecting human rights through a responsible approach to tech ⛈️becoming a net zero business tackling climate change & environmental challenges Read this year's Digital Impact and Sustainability report to find out more: https://lnkd.in/edqfP7i
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You are a true role model in this regard - let's get more to follow!
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Glad to receive knowledge on what you do. This will help to guide many as we fight climate crisis.
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Thanks for what you do and for sharing your knowledge and guiding others!