Clean energy and Covid-19 drive down BT emissions by 14 per cent in 12 months

BT has announced it slashed the carbon intensity of its operations by 14 per cent over the last financial year, putting it "well on track" to meeting its 2031 carbon goal.

The telecoms giant said the reduction had been achieved after it completed the transition of its operations to renewable power, while successive coronavirus lockdowns also led to a significant reduction in travel and heating emissions.

BT said it has now reduced its supply chain emissions by 19 per cent and its overall emissions intensity by 57 per cent on levels recorded in the financial year ending in March 2017.

The firm is aiming to reduce its supply chain emissions by 42 per cent and the emissions intensity of its business by 87 per cent by 2031 as part of its drive to become a net zero carbon emissions business by 2045.

Andy Wales, chief digital impact and sustainability officer at BT, said the firm was continuing to build on a long history of leadership on climate. "We were one of the first companies in the world to set a 1.5C aligned science-based target and today's announcement underpins our commitment to becoming a greener more sustainable business," he said.

The company intends to make further decarbonisation gains over the coming years through the electrification of its fleet, having pledged to electrify 28,000 of its 33,000 vehicles by 2030.

Wales added collaborative action would be needed to deliver a net zero economy. "Our efforts alone aren't enough though, which is why we're calling on all other businesses to take action - working with their customers, colleagues and suppliers to make a difference," he said.

BT claims it also helped its customers save 13 million tonnes of carbon in the financial year that ended last March, more than three times' the firm's own carbon footprint. This allowed it to meet a "3:1 carbon abatement target" one year early, it said.

BT's progress follows an update from the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign earlier this month, which saw the campaign applaud the telco sector for becoming the first to hit a crucial 'tipping point' whereby the a critical mass of the market is committed to meeting net zero targets.