Australia's biggest telco Telstra has revealed plans to reduce carbon emissions for every dollar earned by at least a tenth over the next six years.
The company is targeting a reduction in its carbon emissions intensity, the amount of carbon emitted for every dollar earned, of at least 10 per cent, and up to 15 per cent, by 2015, Telstra said in a statement today.
"We are setting a realistic and achievable target for carbon intensity because we are serious about reducing our impact on the environment," chief executive David Thodey said. "Our customers, employees and the community increasingly expect us to act, and as the owner of infrastructure that is vulnerable to harsher climatic conditions it is in our interests to do so."
Telstra emitted 1.52 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2008/09, equivalent to 64 tonnes per million dollars of domestic revenue. The target requires Telstra to reduce this to at least 58 tonnes per million dollars by 2015.
The company would achieve the reduction by investing in energy efficient projects and accommodation, undertaking energy saving projects in existing facilities and decommissioning redundant assets.
Telstra also will train staff to reduce office and vehicle fleet emissions and use teleconferencing rather than travel for meetings. Thodey said the target took into account the larger energy requirements of the growing network and data storage facilities.
Traffic on the wireless Next G network was doubling every eight months, while traffic was doubling every 20 months on the fixed Next IP network, he said.
Another positive step from Mr. Thodey. So another thumbs up!