- CO2 emissions will be reduced by 20 percent
- Milestone for a comprehensive climate protection strategy
The Deutsche Telekom Board of Management has decided on an ambitious climate protection target. CO2 emissions are to be reduced by 20 percent across the Group by the year 2020. This means that the Group will reduce these emissions by around 430,000 tons of CO2 per year. This amount is equivalent to the emissions of about 1.1 billion passenger kilometers in air traffic, or about 28,000 flights around the world. Birgit Klesper, Head of Group Transformational Change & Corporate Responsibility, said: "The international climate protection target is an important milestone on the road to a comprehensive climate protection strategy at Deutsche Telekom. By reducing our CO2 emissions by 20 percent, we can make a valuable contribution to a climate-friendly and future-oriented society worldwide. The goal is to be energy-efficient in providing our products and services to our customers." The climate protection goal is the result of a global project, in which a total of almost 40 Group units in 29 countries are participating - including Germany, Austria, South Africa, Singapore and China. First, the actual emissions from direct (for example, fuel oil and diesel) and indirect (for example, purchased electricity and long-distance heating) energy use were analyzed for the mobile network, the fixed network, data centers, buildings, offices, information technology and the vehicle fleet. Emissions from business travel were also scrutinized. A development forecast was then made up to the year 2020 based on business projections and the identification of appropriate energy efficiency programs. Luis Neves, Group Representative for Climate Change and Sustainability, said: "Deutsche Telekom has been committed to the issue of climate protection for years now. We’re working intensively on moving forward as a Group and further developing the global climate protection target. In 2014 our focus will be on identifying more efficiency potential, including additional Group units and increasing the amount of renewable energy sources in the electricity mix."
When it comes to climate protection Deutsche Telekom has made notable progress. Among other achievements, network technology has been converted from old to new on a global scale. Today, 12,000 mobile sites and therefore half of the old GSM facilities have already been replaced on schedule. Important contributions to climate protection have also been made in other areas. Around 1,500 employees participated in eco-driving lessons in 2013. Other examples include the installation of a modern LED lighting system in DT offices in Frankfurt and the launch of e-mobility projects in Hamburg and Bonn.
About Deutsche Telekom Deutsche Telekom is one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies with 140 million mobile customers, over 31 million fixed-network lines and more than 17 million broadband lines (as of September 30, 2013). The Group provides products and services for the fixed network, mobile communications, the Internet and IPTV for consumers, and ICT solutions for business customers and corporate customers. Deutsche Telekom is present in around 50 countries and has 230,000 employees worldwide. The Group generated revenues of EUR 58.2 billion in the 2012 financial year - more than half of it outside Germany (as of December 31, 2012).