Indian operator Bharti Airtel says it has appointed a committee to work on its efforts towards an environmental, sustainability and governance (ESG) initiative.
The panel, which includes five directors, will provide strategic oversight to help Airtel achieve its sustainability targets, and to encourage initiatives and best practices.
Airtel has also announced that it has joined Business Ambition for 1.5ºC, a campaign by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling companies to set science-based emissions reduction targets.
Airtel has said that it is committed to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions 50.2 per cent by financial year 2031 (from a base of financial year 2021). It has also committed to reducing absolute scope 3 GHG emissions 42 per cent over the same timeframe.
Airtel is not the only telecoms giant to highlight its environmental credentials lately. Last week Nokia called for accelerated digitisation and green energy uptake. It also aims to achieve 100 percent purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2025 to power its offices, R&D labs and factories. Where renewable energy is not available Nokia will work with the broader ecosystem to drive greater uptake of sustainable electricity.
The company also highlighted the role of digitisation in making industries more sustainable. Less waste, more resource efficiency and greater productivity can, for example, be enabled by automation and smart manufacturing.
Nokia has already committed to reducing its emissions by 50 percent across its value chain by 2030. Its commitments have been approved by the SBTi as in line with the Paris Agreement’s aim of limiting global warming to 1.5C. Nokia estimates that 90 percent of its emissions come from customer use of products.
